Day of Valentine - where that comes from?

Whenever stores put their goods Christmas, out comes elements of Valentine - Valentine is still more than six weeks.

I don't know why, but I must always surprised to see merchandise Valentin so shortly after Christmas.

I always wondered where came from Valentine's day, and in these circumstances, a person could be forgiven for thinking, invented to create more business when Christmas is over.

But, after a little research, I discovered that Valentine was not a party who "invented" by the greeting card companies sell greeting cards plus or by candy companies to sell more candy or florist sell more roses.

Valentin has really begun more than 1,500 years ago.

According to legend, Valentine was a priest who defied the orders of the Roman Emperor Claude and continued to perform marriages. It seems that Claudius realized that no young men don't want to join his army, because they didn't leave their wives and sweethearts. When it was discovered that Valentine was still conducting marriages in secret, he was sentenced to death. Valentine allegedly cured daughter of the jailer of blindness and the night before his execution, sent a note he signed "to" your Valentine. He died on February 14th 269 A.D.

In 496 A.D., February 14 was appointed by Pope Gelasius Pope in honour of St. Valentine.

First Valentines are credited to Charles, duc d ' Orléans, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London during the 15th century, where he wrote romantic verses that he sends to his wife.

A woman called Esther Howland is credited for sending Valentine's first in the United States.

The United States Postal Service is credited with advancing the popularity of sending valentines when penny postcard was introduced in the mid-1800s. Prior to this, the mailing was too expensive for the average person because at that time, the person who received the letter paid postage and not the person who sent the letter.

Personally, I am grateful that it was not this way today. Can you imagine paying postage to receive your Valentine?

In yesteryear, Valentin were painted by hand of cards decorated with lace and feathers and sequins.

I know step for someone else, but if I were going to hand paint a Valentine and decorate with some lace and feathers and sequins, I go to all that work for anyone.

Today, however, Valentine cards are mass produced in thousands of designs and sizes - large and small; serious and silly; good markets and expensive ones.

Variety of Valentine's cards is overwhelming, as far as I'm concerned, rather unnecessary. I mean, maps of Valentine's how much a person has to buy? Joint? Parents? Brothers and sisters? Second and third cousins? The teacher that you had in the fifth year? The lady that reduces your hair? The grocery clerk who recorded until your last purchase? The man who stopped his car to you could make it through the match without being crushed?

And what about Valentine's goods? Candy, posters, Teddy bear sporting a red heart that said "Be Mine," with red hearts everywhere, socks heart-shaped rings, necklaces and earrings, and the list goes on and on.

I wonder what the real St. Valentine would think cards and candy jewelry and what?

Then, maybe the real St. Valentine would be thrilled by this turn of events.

After all, he has more than 1,700 years died, but February 14, people are still celebrate Valentine's day.

And putting giving Valentines in a whole new perspective, it is not.