Today is Saint Valentine’s Day, the festival of love.
We’re always hearing that this festival has commercial origins and only emerged recently. However, it actually dates back to 3rd-century Ancient Rome.
Because he believed young men without families were more willing to become soldiers, Emperor Claudius III banned marriages between young couples, but a priest called Valentine defied the emperor’s orders.
The priest continued to wed young couples in secret until the emperor found out and sentenced him to death. Valentine was executed on 14 February in the year 270 CE for disobedience and defiance.
The commercialization of the festival didn’t start until the 19th century.
Happy Valentine’s Day from everyone at Route 66 Idiomas!