Show ST valentines DAY while many legends dealing with st valentines day have been current throughout the centuries it seems probable that the day takes its name from an early christian martyr who was put to death in rome late in the third century some say there were three martyrs named valentine all of whom were killed on february 14 of different years the sending of love missives on that day is said to have originated igina ted when one of the valentines on the day of his execution sent a farewell note on paper cut in fanciful shape to the blind daughter of his jailor the girl had been kind to him and he signed the note your valentine another tradition is that the first poetical valentines were written by charles duke of orleans during his imprisonment for 25 years in the tower of london he was finally ransomed rans omed and became the father of louis XII of france chiq love poems written years ago are preserved in the british museum the observance of st valentines day became widespread during the reign of charles II 11 of england and not only love messages but expensive gifts as well were sent by young nobles to their ladies fair many of the early paper valentines produced for sale were made ironically enough by nuns in french convents an interesting collection of old valentines has been made by the chicago historical society |