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By CarolinaFebruary 14, 2005 - 5:17 PM
Hello World!
Well, it's that time of year again. No, not the Grammy's, though hurray for Ray Charles. It's St. Valentine's Day. Heaven to the lovers, hell on earth to the cynic. And because I'm more of a cynic than a lover, instead of showering you with heart shaped chocolates I'm gonna hit you with a history lesson. Because knowledge is power.
The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. (Thanks to the History Channel.)
So there you have it, kids. Though there are different opinions about where the holiday comes from, this is the most popular. Today, we celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th, which is believed to be the day Valentine died. He was incarcerated, tortured and killed so you could get yourself one of those giant Hershey's Kisses' for $19.99 (comes with a cute little teddy bear courtesy of hersheys.com). Nothing says 'I love you' like the over commercialization of a good deed.
Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!
Talk CSI Files threads
Below are some of the topics currently being discussed at Talk CSI:
- Over at the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation board, Katarina wants to know: what is the coolest crime ever? Well, what is it?
- Doing anything for a special someone on Valentine's day? Inquiring minds at the Miscellaneous board want to know.
- Wanna get some of those CSI courses out of the way and learn handwriting analysis now? Check it out at the Forensic Science board. But beware of internet scams, TexanCSI warns.
More topics can be found at the Talk CSI!
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Today's Television Listings
- At 10:00 p.m. tonight, CBS will be showing a new episode of CSI: Miami - "Identity". Here's a description of the episode:
"When the CSIs find a woman swallowed whole and killed by a gigantic snake, they uncover a covert drug smuggling operation. Evidence leads Horatio and the team to a drug smuggling operation where large snakes are suspected of be being used to bring illegal drugs into the country to avoid detection by customs. However, when Horatio finds that Clavo Cruz, a nemesis of Horatio's who hides behind his diplomatic immunity, may be behind the operation, the team must find a legal way to put the criminal behind bars. Meanwhile, Wolfe must find the truth when two women each claim that they are the real victim of identity theft and the other is the culprit."
- At 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, CBS will air CSI: New York's new episode, "Til Death Do We Part". Here's a preview of the episode:
"When a bride and the doves that were to be released at her ceremony collapse moments before the wedding, Mac and Danny investigate their mysterious deaths. Although the team is anxious to perform an autopsy on the bride, Dr. Hawkes is impeded by the victim’s father, who requests that the body be blessed by a rabbi first. Meanwhile, Stella, Aiden and Det. Flack discover the handless body of an ex-con at a Staten Island monastery that is rumored to be haunted by monks who were once murdered there."
- There will also be a new episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, "King Baby", set to air on Thursday at 9 p.m. Here's a brief description of what promises to be a bizarre episode:
"When a well-known casino owner is found lifeless and stripped of clothing in his driveway, the CSI teams join forces to find the cause of death. Evidence leads them from a furnished adult nursery into the bizarre world of infantilism: men who wear diapers and love to be coddled."
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