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Will You Be My Valentine?
A History of Cupid
The representation of a flying child with a bow and arrows on Valentine's Day symbolizes the hope and celebration of love. Everyone is familiar with Cupid, but where did he originate?
Eros, the youthful son of Aphrodite and the deity of sexual desire and love has its roots in Greek mythology. He was the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, in the eyes of the Romans, who gave him the name Cupid. Regardless of his ancestry, he is shown playing carelessly with the emotions of both gods and humans while carrying a magic bow and arrow.
He is notorious for using golden arrows to incite desire in his victims, but he also has leaden arrows that elicit aversion, aiding in his naughty actions. He is sometimes depicted wearing armor, suggesting an ironic comparison between love, romance, and combat while also signifying the invincibility that love possesses. No one is immune to his ability to find compatible partners or the potent force of love itself, regardless of whether his wounds arouse passion or disgust.
But how did this baby with wings come to represent Valentine's Day? The term "valentine" means "worthy, strong or powerful one," and while some claim it refers to the murdered Christian leader Saint Valentine, others contend that it actually refers to the Greek god Eros, who was a tremendous, powerful, and athletic youthful hunter.
The ancient Catholic church is where Valentine's Day first began. For opposing Claudius II, the Roman Emperor, and continuing to wed young couples in defiance of the Emperor's ban, Saint Valentine was imprisoned, tortured, and slain. Others contend that Valentine's Day was purposefully placed the day before the paganic festival Lupercalia to Christianize and eclipse the practice of animal sacrifice for the assurance of fertility and simplicity of childbirth. Some claim that Valentine's Day itself marks the anniversary of his passing.
According to legend, Saint Valentine originally used the phrase "from your Valentine" in a letter to a guest he fell in love with while he was imprisoned, giving rise to the modern greeting. Thus, February 14 has become a day to celebrate love, and the term "valentine" has come to refer to a special someone.
Written valentines first debuted in the middle of the eighteenth century and have since been sent to lovers and friends. By 1900, printed cards had taken flight and were emblazoned with Cupid's image, which became the icon of Valentine's Day and the front of greeting cards all over the world. The legend of Cupid continues to spread love as an estimated one billion Valentine's Day cards are delivered each year.
But how did this baby with wings come to represent Valentine's Day? The term "valentine" means "worthy, strong or powerful one," and while some claim it refers to the murdered Christian leader Saint Valentine, others contend that it actually refers to the Greek god Eros, who was a tremendous, powerful, and athletic youthful hunter.
The ancient Catholic church is where Valentine's Day first began. For opposing Claudius II, the Roman Emperor, and continuing to wed young couples in defiance of the Emperor's ban, Saint Valentine was imprisoned, tortured, and slain. Others contend that Valentine's Day was purposefully placed the day before the paganic festival Lupercalia to Christianize and eclipse the practice of animal sacrifice for the assurance of fertility and simplicity of childbirth. Some claim that Valentine's Day itself marks the anniversary of his passing.
According to legend, Saint Valentine originally used the phrase "from your Valentine" in a letter to a guest he fell in love with while he was imprisoned, giving rise to the modern greeting. Thus, February 14 has become a day to celebrate love, and the term "valentine" has come to refer to a special someone.
Written valentines first debuted in the middle of the eighteenth century and have since been sent to lovers and friends. By 1900, printed cards had taken flight and were emblazoned with Cupid's image, which became the icon of Valentine's Day and the front of greeting cards all over the world. The legend of Cupid continues to spread love as an estimated one billion Valentine's Day cards are delivered each year.
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