There are many legends surrounding St. Valentine’s Day. We have selected three of our favourites to share with you.
Claudius the Roman Emperor believed that single men made better soldiers; he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine believing this to be unjust continued to perform marriage ceremonies. He was caught and imprisoned. It is said that he fell in love with his Jailers daughter and the last letter he wrote before his death was to his love and signed ‘From your valentine’.
Pre-dating this, the fertility festival ‘Lupercalia’ dedicated to the Roman God Faunus and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. The festival included sacrifices at the cave entrance where Romulus and Remus cared for by the she-wolf. The sacrifices are dipped in blood and slapped on women and crops to ensure fertility for the coming year.
Later in the festival all the single women would place their name in an urn to be randomly matched to single men. Very romantic!
Pope Gelasius declared the 14th February to be St. Valentine’s Day in the 5th Century. This has been accepted since and justified by mid February marking the beginning of the birds mating system in Northern Europe.
Today we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day with a declaration of our love, whether that be a card, flowers or the ultimate display of love – a Diamond. A Diamond symbolises endurance!
With the record number of proposals on this special day, it is safe to say - Nothing says I love you like a Diamond
Check out our exquisite range of engagement rings
