According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome around 270 A.D. The heyday of Roman empire was coming to an end. When Claudius II became the emperor, he felt that married men were too emotionally attached to their families, and would not make good soldiers, so he banned marriage. Valentine seeing the trauma of young lovers, met them in a secret place, and joined them in matrimony anyway. Claudius heard about Valentine and had him arrested. However, the emperor was impressed with the young priest's conviction, and attempted to convert him over to the roman gods. Valentine refused and even attempted to convert Claudius, knowing the consequences. On February 24, 270, Valentine was executed. While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in spoke with his jailor who had a blind daughter. He requested that Valentine heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of the girl. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper, and signed a farewell message to her, "From Your Valentine," a phrase we still know today. Valentine became a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual involving young Romans offering the women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St.Valentine's name. The Valentine's Day card spread with Christianity, and is now celebrated all over the world. Gifts and tokens of affection have become a tradition with chocolates and jewelry taking the forefront. Today anyone who is special to someone in any way may receive a gift.Forest House has a special line of Valentine themed jewelry available through our catalogs. (Sorry, we ate all the chocolate)

