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Show Saint Valentine's Day It Is a popular error to assume that February H is to be associated with h single saint. The day belongs to no fewer than seven persons in the comprehensive com-prehensive ecclesiastical calendar, and the Head of an eighth is venerated at this time. They ame from France. Belgium, Spain and Africa, and the t'ost-knnwu ineaibiTs of the group were n bishop of Finbria and a priest of I Home, both of the Third i-entury, A. D. j lHstory and legend are vague In reclt- I Ing the details of their personal history. his-tory. The lover's festival is apparently appar-ently to be connected not with the birthday of these holy men but with an early pagan festival that was part of the Uoman I.uperc:ilia. The medieval medie-val c'islom In F.nghind and on the continent was to put the names of yo;;ng men and women In a jar and draw them out en Saint Valentine's eve. Those whose na!ios were thus I linked had to make pnvvnts to each j other and agree to be each other's valentines for the ensuing year. By and by the women were released from the obligation to make gifts and only the men s--nt presents or missives expressive ex-pressive of affectionate sentiment. |