Show ST PAT tha origin of this day is lost in the myths of antiquity one writer says it has decender dec ended to us from the ancient comans who during the lv peccalia per calia celebrated in the month of february put the names of byung women in a box from winch they were drawn by the men as chance directed upon the advent of cenati anity the priests hallowed this pagan practice by substituting patron saints for women and from a vary early date it has been customary for roman catholics to choose on the day of february a patron saint for the year jn england scotland and in some paras of france thia practice beraner abed into an amusing practice on the ave of st day young unmarried people would congregate and inscribe upon an equal number of little billets the names ef their acquaintances quain of both sexes throw the whole into a receptacle of sam sought and each would draw oae of the opposite person drawn would become ones valen and these imaginary engagements often led to real ones because one acee sary consequence orthis practice wa that for the whole year a bachelor remained bound to act the gallant toward his valentine later ahe young people so chosen had to make each other presents but finally it became customary for only the young men to make the presents pre seats these customs have been handed down until we have tha ST day with its beautiful and rude though tha day ia now mainly cb starved by children in fond maimore older rember rei tho pleasure of day when they were young and giva to it due reverence |