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Paper Moon Newsletter>
Paper Moons & Valentines
February 14, 2009
Paper Moons & Valentines
The history of valentine day is cloaked in mystery and legend. Despite it’s Roman origins, in 496 Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th to be a Christian Feast Day commemorating St. Valentine. At the time there were at least 3 early Christians with that name and remains unclear which one the Pope was referring to, there lies the mystery.
Valentine Legend #1
In the city of Rome around 270AD lived an Emperor named Claudius, known throughout history as Claudius the Cruel. Near his Palace was a temple in which a priest by the name of Valentine served who was greatly loved by the Roman people. They came from all around to here his words and receive his blessings.
When wars began to break out in the Roman Empire Claudius summoned all male citizens to battle. As the wars continued year after year many of the men became unwilling to go. The married men were no longer willing to leave there families, while the younger men did not wish to be far from their sweethearts. Because of this, soldiers became fewer and fewer which greatly angered the Emperor. To remedy this Claudius banned all marriage ceremonies and dissolved all engagements.
The Emperor’s decree greatly saddened Valentine so much so that when a young couple came to him to be wed he defied the Emperor and secretly united them in marriage in front of the temples sacred alter. Soon the news spread throughout the Roman Empire that Valentine was a friend to lovers and couple after couple sought him out so they too may be secretly wed.
When the news of these secret marriage ceremonies reached Claudius he was furious that his commands were being ignored. He quickly sent his soldiers to seize Valentine and cast him in the dungeon. There he remained until the time of his execution on February 14, 270.
Valentine Legend #2
This story starts during the last few weeks of Valentine’s life. A jailer for the Emperor of Rome had learned of Valentine’s medical & spiritual healing abilities and came to him with his daughter, who had been blind since birth, seeking a healing. Valentine immediately fell in love with this sweet little girl and pledged to help. Knowing this would be a difficult case he put ointment on the girls eyes and scheduled another visit.
One day on another visit the little girl asked Valentine if God existed and he assured her He most certainly did. It was then she told him how she prayed night and day that she would be able to see. Valentine prayed with her and told her whatever happened would be God’s will and would be for the best.
Several weeks passed by and the girl’s sight had still not returned, but the jailer and his daughter’s faith remained strong and the continued their weekly meetings. When the Emperor learned of these visits with his very own jailer he was furious and sent his soldiers to arrest Valentine because of his religious beliefs and destroyed all of his medicines.
On the Eve of his death Valentine asked the jailer for a pen and paper so he may write one last letter. When he finished he handed the letter to the jailer and asked it to be delivered to his daughter. He was executed the next day, February 14, 269.
When the jailer arrived home he delivered the letter to his daughter. When she opened the letter a Yellow crocus spilled out into her palm. She looked down to see the words “From Your Valentine” and the beautiful yellow flower. Her sight had been restored.
Valentine Legend #3
The Most widely accepted story is that Valentine was an early Christian martyr put to death by orders of Claudius II for flouting the ban on Christianity and refusing to denounce his God.
This story was added to in later years to include that Valentine, because of his love and faith, had become a friend to children all over the Roman Empire. When Imprisoned the children missed him so much they would toss loving notes through the bars on his cells.
Paper Moons
You are probably asking yourself by now, how do Paper Moons fit into all of this? I’m glad you asked, you see while doing my research on the real St. Valentine I realized every story I stumbled upon had the same message...Love. Also when compiling a new song playlist for my shop this week I couldn’t help notice how many songs related the moon to Love and romance. And in all my years collecting antique and vintage postcards the most compelling images to me are always of young lovers and sweethearts having their picture taken on the “Paper Moon”
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