The Origin Of Valentine's Day

The Feast of Lubercus

The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. The God Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Every February the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks. Also during Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of young women were put into a box and names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year, which began in March. This celebration continued long after wolves were a problem to Rome.

St. Valentine's Day

As Christianity became prevalent, priests attempted to replace old heathen practices. To Christianize the ancient pagan celebration of the Feast of Lubercus, the church officials changed the name to St. Valentine's Day. To give the celebration further meaning and eliminate pagan traditions, priests substituted the drawing of Saints names for the names of the girls. On St. Valentine's Day the priest placed saint's names into an urn or box. The young people then drew a name from the container. In the following year, the youth was supposed to emulate the life of the saint whose name he had drawn.

By the fourteenth century they reverted back to the use of girl's names. In the sixteenth century they once again tried to have saintly valentines but it was as unsuccessful as the first attempt.

While it can't be proved historically, there were seven men named Valentine who were honored with feasts on February 14th. Of these men, two stories link incidents that could have given our present day meaning to St. Valentine's Day.

One of these men named Valentine was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Valentine was revered by the young and old, rich and poor, with people of all walks of life attending his services. At this time Emperor Claudius was heavily recruiting men to serve as soldiers for his wars without much success. The men preferred not to leave their wives, families and sweethearts to fight in foreign lands. Claudius became angry and declared that no more marriages could be performed and all engagements were cancelled.

Valentine thought this to be unfair and secretly married several couples. When Claudius found out, he threw Valentine in prison where he died. Friends of the priest retrieved his body and buried it in a churchyard in Rome.

Another version had St. Valentine jailed for helping Christians. While Valentine was in prison he cured a jailer's daughter of blindness. Claudius became enraged and had Valentine clubbed and beheaded on February 14, 269 A.D.

Yet another story claims that Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter and wrote her letters that were signed "From your Valentine."

All of the seven Valentines eventually evolved into one. In 496 Pope Gelasius declared the day in honor of St. Valentine. Through the centuries the Christian holiday became a time to exchange love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Lovers' quarrels come under his jurisdiction and, naturally, he is the patron saint of engaged couples and of anyone wishing to marry.

---

Hey ok now i added a new layout, i used a premade that I made so now it wont be available unfortunatly . I hope you like the colors. I now have a ENTER PAGE. And the chat is now below ads. i dont have strict rules for chat...just no cussing and no spamming. limit to 3 messages in a row..not too bad huh? i DO allow Advertisements of your site...=] dont you just love me ? I am STILL Transfering everything from my sub domain. so PLEASE BE patient. ttyl x0x0 mimi

---

After theese "nice" 100 days of school theres tons to look forward to. Espically seing how next year i'll be a senior ;-). This also means less aggervation of homework .I hope all of you enjoy your last 80 days and spend all the time you can with your friends over summer break. P.S. Getting my van over the summer ;-)
- Justin

---

yay its finally here!! new Design Section. I kicked it off with 3 Premades. The Order form isn't completed for CODED yet. but you can order them for non coded if you like . after which i get working on the main order form. prices are cheap and i accpet payment only through pay pal. i hope you like. if you have any suggestions please email us. next premade layout to be made will be taylor swift.

---

PLease nejoy the new layout is added :))

|Name: Pink Corvette|Categories: Cars, Pink|View Live Preview and Get Code|

Mimi

---

so it took me awhile but i got the myspace layouts section up..yuppp right under tweaks. there is currently only 1 layout...lol but i intent most definatly to make more. also if you would like to contribute plese email me the layout at shimmeringxlights@gmail.com

---

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! i think i'll had some new features for the site today i'll keep u updated =]

---

My website is so dead...i really wish i could work on it...well i am slowly. my grandfather went to the hospital last night. watching him go out on the strtcher was painful. its weird how you can hate someone but love them at the same time, i've felt this so many times, but with a family member its different. i never liked my grandfather and now that he's in the hospital all those feels are giving me guilt pain. =[ he might have cancer of his liver, which is better off knowing you dont need a liver?? idk i'll keep you updated.

---

Please do NOT spam on the comments...i rather you do that on the messege board because when ppl spam on the comments boards i have to recode and delete them all one by one....please respcet my hard work...anyways i was away awhile but im back a litlle while to do some updating =]

---

ok so i didn't know i was gunna be piled up with THIS much HW...and it bothers me because you know i JUST baught the domain. . WTH is up with that...i have the worst luck. well anyways i just have some more transfering to do...i think i'll open the site anyways......after i transfer everything . i cant wait. i have already! WHY me!!!!!!!. but i promise i'll get the site going soon.. =] byebye xox michelle

---

Mimi

---

While Walking Home From MiMi's I Think I Struck Genius <---(probably mispelled)
Ok Now Here It Is
Shimmering Lights - Let You Inner Glow Be Your Outter Reflection

Hope Ya Like It
Peace

~Justin~

---

i was so eager to work on the new domain today and then i got all this homework and studying to do =[...ew. well anyways i have about 45 minutes to do something...lmao. i decided NOT to do ad sense...hah umm cuz its complicated and i want everything to be simple. listening to stranger by hilary duff.i love the video..lol. i pimped out my binders to by creating covers...lol anyways today went well otherwise! it wasn't humid! which obviously means my hair was tamable...lol oh and i had cookies for lunch....and some weird potatoe things. tehe i still dont understand cafeteria lunch. well i'll definatly no matter wat be working on the site alot during the weekend =] x0x0mimi

---

6 years ago today a tragic an unforgettable event took place. i think you all know what that is. 9-11. just seeing those 2 numbers together can send chills up and down your spine. why? because wat happened that day was almost too hard to believe. what a tragedy the U.S had to take on for no apparent reason. many innocent citizens lost their lives...loved ones...and just the thought of how safe are we really in the U.S. i wanna take the time/space out of my website for a small dedicated memorial to these people and everyone who feels for the tragic even that took place 6 years ago today.
below, are EXERTS from a speech President George W. Bush Gave to the nation about 9-11. please take the time to remember and respect those who suffered, cried, and lost parts of their heart on September 11th,2001. this date will never leave us. x0x0 love, Mimi



Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbours. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbours who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help with local rescue efforts.
Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.
The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business, as well.
The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.
America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

---

yeah well im going to be working on graphics very soon so dont get your panties in a bunch =]. Yeah i will be doing a lot of graphics for the site and i will be adding a button for custom orders i havent decided to charge or not yet so... School is a drag i dont see Mimi to much :'(... Well i go to Vocational School so its fun.... Cant wait until i get my VROOM! anywho yeah so bare with us the site is being worked on feverouisly. ill get back to you guys with updqates.
Peace and dont let school get you down

---

Ok so Now Im currently working on both the VISITOR SECTION and the myspace section . its turning out pretty well in my opinion. I'm really working on it hard before i get a lot of homework. :). there WILL be myspace layouts...soon hopefully. for now im just planning out how everything is going to be organized So far i've gotten Paypal Donation up. I'm only asking for 1 dollar here. lol and later i may look into ad sense. that shall help me a bunch. Kira just recently gave me a whole bunch of blends to add to the site. i added the thumbnails but i still have to add the actual graphics. i attempted my 3rd vexel today!. and let me tell you its getting better and better...lol maybe some day I'll find a GOOD tutorial and i'll actually finish one...haha ok well tonight my mission is to get up that ad sense maybe and to get the visitor/myspace sections looking decent. i'll keep editing the article. pce. xoxo mimi.

---

Zomg! last night or the night before i baught http://shimmering-lights.com! its amazing! lol it cost about $9.12. and i got it for ONE year! i had a gift card and i just didn't know wat to use it for...tehe. i got so excited...lol. well i was thinking of switching to the free hosting GODADDY proved. uhhh but they have HUG banners/ads at the top. i dont go for that. they give you 5GB disk space to...i was upset. but i might just use it to host files...if i can do that it. nope nvm i cant...didn't think so...lol but im sticking with awardspace...ijust need to setup the nameservers and everything....THEN i'll have to Transfer everything from the subdomain to the domain.......UGH! again....lol but w/e i have my own domain im happy! lol ok so i finished my very first vexel! it sucks for a first time so please be nice...lol its hilary duff if you cant tell because its soo crude and all. lol its pretty good dhading i did. ok well check it out and tell me wat u think. x0x0 mimi

Click the thumbnail below to view my vexel of hilary duff!

---

Ok now i've been working on the site alot latley seen as i have plenty of free time strangely...i'm not loading with homework...Yet..lol. well if u are wondering i am a Sopphmore :] and so far its going pretty well. my scheduale is sooow weird tho..lol it drives me crazyy...haha. well first off i HATE having lunch a friggen 9:45 in the morning...what the hell??? lets call it breakfeast shall we. lol. hah ok so while i was eating my "BREAKFEAST" i was thinking about the site. and i came to a conclusion. yay muah tehe...well i decided that i will be advertising much sooner than i thought. and the 468X60 ads will not be free in the future...i just opened a paypal account...i mean come on...look at the quality of the website??? i really need paid hosting and a domain. but im pooor....boo hoo hoo well anyways...i added an Opinions Section that i think may spark some interst. although im very intrigued with wat you think i should have as subjects...so please comment. =] till later...byes love,mimi

---