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Let Me Be Your Valentine
Episode 464

Let Me Be Your Valentine

<p>Although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognise St. Valentine as a saint of the church, there is some uncertainty about who exactly he was. One thing that is agreed is that someone called Valentine was killed on or around February 14th, 270, which some believe is why we celebrate Valentine’s Day every February 14th to this day.   </p><br><p>What is less clear is why St. Valentine was executed, what he did in his life, and what exactly he had to do with romantic love. Fortunately, there is no shortage of stories that have been offered up throughout the ages, each more fanciful than the last. </p><br><p>In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discuss the role of Shakespeare and Chaucer in popularising the connection between St. Valentine and love; speculate on whether soldiers fight better if they haven’t had sex recently; and consider whether St. Valentine was one person or three. You know, like God…  </p><br><p><strong>Further Reading:</strong></p><p>• ‘Who was Saint Valentine? A history of the figure's origins’ (History Extra, 2022): <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/valentine-day-history-saint-who-real-story-cured/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/valentine-day-history-saint-who-real-story-cured/</a> </p><p>• ‘St. Valentine beheaded’ (History.com, 2009): </p><p><a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/st-valentine-beheaded" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/st-valentine-beheaded</a> </p><p>• ‘Saint Valentine's Day Animated History’ (Fiveminded, 2018): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdKZepHMFWE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdKZepHMFWE</a> </p><br><p>#Person #Classical #Christian #Italy</p><br><p><strong>Love the show? Join </strong>🌴<strong>CLUB RETROSPECTORS </strong>🌴<strong> to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!</strong></p><p>Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.</p><p><strong>Join now via </strong><a href="https://apple.co/3xCWWQX" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Apple Podcasts</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="https://patreon.com/Retrospectors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Patreon</strong></a><strong>. </strong>Thanks!</p><br><p><strong>We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:</strong><a href="https://create.acast.com/episodes/ca1f94a1-0921-446a-ae00-4d4bfd2ba3ef/podfollow.com/Retrospectors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong> </strong></a><a href="http://podfollow.com/Retrospectors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>podfollow.com/Retrospectors</strong></a></p><br><p><em>The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.</em></p><p><em>Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.</em></p><p><em>Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.</em></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Today In History with The Retrospectors

February 14, 202311m 45s

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Show Notes

Although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognise St. Valentine as a saint of the church, there is some uncertainty about who exactly he was. One thing that is agreed is that someone called Valentine was killed on or around February 14th, 270, which some believe is why we celebrate Valentine’s Day every February 14th to this day.   


What is less clear is why St. Valentine was executed, what he did in his life, and what exactly he had to do with romantic love. Fortunately, there is no shortage of stories that have been offered up throughout the ages, each more fanciful than the last. 


In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discuss the role of Shakespeare and Chaucer in popularising the connection between St. Valentine and love; speculate on whether soldiers fight better if they haven’t had sex recently; and consider whether St. Valentine was one person or three. You know, like God…  


Further Reading:

• ‘Who was Saint Valentine? A history of the figure's origins’ (History Extra, 2022): https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/valentine-day-history-saint-who-real-story-cured/ 

• ‘St. Valentine beheaded’ (History.com, 2009): 

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/st-valentine-beheaded 

• ‘Saint Valentine's Day Animated History’ (Fiveminded, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdKZepHMFWE 


#Person #Classical #Christian #Italy


Love the show? Join 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS 🌴 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!

Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.

Join now via Apple Podcasts or PatreonThanks!


We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors


The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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