| Author: larissa sequeira 29 Jan 2009 | Member Level: Gold Points : 2 |
The origin of St. Valentine's Day, the day lovers, celebrated on february 14 every year with the sending of cards saying , "Be my valentine " is the roman catholic church's attempt to disguise a popular pagan fertility festival by associating it with the death of one of it's own saint - Saint Valentine , who was beheaded on february 24, 270 AD. St Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.
The pagan celebrations originated from the roman festival of love, associated with the goddess juno Februata. Young lovers also held a festival of their own declaring their love or prospering their marriage.
Saint valentine after whom the day is now named , was a christian. He was imprisoned by the Roman emperor Cladius II for his belief in christianity. Claudius felt that married men made poor soldiers because they loathed to leave their families and go to war. Claudius needed soldiers and he abolished marriage. Ignoring this edict, Valentine invited young lovers to come to him in secret and he joined them in the sacrament of matrimony.
Enraged by this friend of lovers, Claudius ordered Valentine to be brought to his court and attempted to convert him to the Roman religion. Valentine refused to renounce Christianity and instead , tried to convert the emperor. On february 24, 270 AD, Valentine was clubbed , stoned, and then Beheaded.
From the church's standpoint, St Valentine appeared to be the ideal candidate to take over the popularity of Lupercus. So in 496 AD, the stern pope Gelasius outlawed the mid- february Lupercian festival. Traditionally, mid- february was the beginning of spring and a time when romans met and courted prospective mates . With the passage of time , young Roman men instituted the custom of offering women, they admired and wished to marry, handwritten greetings of affection on 14 february. Slowly the card's acquired St. Valentine's name.
As christianity spread through europe , so did the practice of sending Valentine day cards. The earliest available card was sent in 1415 by Charles, the duke of orleans, France. He sent it to his wife, while he was held a prisoner in the famous Tower of london. The card is preserved in the british museum.
Valentine day, and the customs that are associated with this day, came to india with Bristish rule. Now they have taken root in the metropolitan cities of India.In their desire to copy the west, many Young boys and girls studying in colleges start sending cards from the last week of january.
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| Author: Gwen 29 Jan 2009 | Member Level: Silver Points : 1 |
Thanks for the important dates in february. Valentines day is the most well known date in february. This date is celebrated in memory of saint valentine. It is a day to express our love for the ones who mean the most to us. People express their love through gifts, flowers, chocolates, etc.
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| Author: Shabeer 01 Mar 2009 | Member Level: Bronze Points : 2 |
National Science Day - February 28
India celebrate National Science Day on February 28 in commemoration of the discovery of Raman Effect by Sir Chandrasekhar Venketa Raman.
Sir C.V Raman was born on 7th February 1888 in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. He was the first Indian scientist to receive the coveted Nobel Prize in 1930 and the second Indian to be awarded Nobel Prize after Rabindra Nath Tagore (1913). He was also the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize.
It was on February 28 he discovered the Raman Effect while studying the Scattering of Light. This discovery provided proof to the quantum nature of light.
When a beam of monochromatic light passes through a transparent substance (a substance which allows light to pass through it), the beam is scattered.On February 28, 1928, he observed two low intensity spectral line corresponding to the incident mono- chromatic light.The Raman Effect confirmed that light was made up of particles known as 'photons'. It helped in the study of the molecular and crystal structures of different substances.
Recipient of many honors and awards Raman became the director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in 1934. He also established Raman Research Institute in Bangalore. He was honored with Bharat Ratna in 1954 and also received Lenin Peace Prize in 1957.
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| Author: srb123 02 Mar 2009 | Member Level: Gold Points : 1 |
Important days in March are
Safety Day March 4
Women' day March 8
Holi also comes in the month of March.
March is a month of many festivals.
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