Every February 14, across the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of Saint Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England.
According to Hallmark, more than 163 million cards—not including packaged kids’ valentines—are exchanged. And it’s not just an American phenomenon. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Italy and Denmark.
Valentine who was a priest, 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. Valentine felt this was unfair so he celebrated marriages in secret. When the emperor found out he was thrown in jail and sentenced to death.
The roots of St. Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year.
So why do we celebrate it?
At first glance, Valentine’s might seem restrictive, and only aimed at a specific group of people, with the added bonus of making everyone outside this group feel miserable. And while Valentine’s is traditionally associated with romantic love, various countries have taken a new approach and have started celebrating the love between friends and between family members too.
While Mother’s Day is about mothers and Christmas is about family, Valentine’s is about whoever you find special. You’re free to choose who you’ll celebrate and even better, you’re free to choose how you will go about celebrating it.
February Valentine Week List
- 7 February: Rose Day
- 8 February: Propose Day
- 9 February: Chocolate Day
- 10 February: Teddy Day
- 11 February: Promise Day
- 12 February: Kiss Day
- 13 February: Hug Day
- 14 February: VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine’s Day: A Day of Romance
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
Many celebrate Valentine’s with a bouquet of flowers or a nice meal, but just in case you like to think outside the box when it comes to Valentine’s we have just the thing you’re looking for (pun intended).
