2025

Why Do We Celebrate Valentine's Day? The Answer Might Surprise You ...

Ever wonder about the history of Valentine’s Day? Celebrated annually on February 14, the holiday has evolved from a historical blend of Christian martyrdom, Roman festivals, and modern commercialism into a global holiday dedicated to love and romance.

Though its exact origins are shrouded in mystery, the day is widely associated with St. Valentine, an early Christian saint, and the traditions that have developed over centuries. Here's a short history lesson ...

The roots of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to ancient Rome, particularly the festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated between February 13 and 15. This fertility festival honored Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. It involved animal sacrifices and rituals meant to promote fertility and ward off evil spirits. Young men would draw the names of women from a jar, forming temporary romantic partnerships—sometimes leading to marriage.

By the late 5th century, as Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, Pope Gelasius I sought to replace Lupercalia with a more Christian-friendly observance. He declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day, linking it to one or more Christian martyrs named Valentine.

While you may have heard of St. Valentine, there are multiple legends regarding his identity. The most popular story involves a Roman priest who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century. Claudius, believing that unmarried soldiers fought better than those with wives and families, outlawed marriages for young men. Valentine defied this decree and secretly performed marriages for young lovers. When his actions were discovered, he was arrested and later executed on February 14, around 269 AD.

Another legend suggests that Valentine, while imprisoned, healed the blind daughter of his jailer. Before his execution, he allegedly sent her a letter signed "From your Valentine," a phrase that endures today. These romantic elements of Valentine’s story helped shape the holiday into the one we know today - a celebration of love and devotion.

The first recorded mention of Valentine's Day as a romantic occasion appears in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century poem "Parliament of Fowls," where he writes of birds choosing their mates on St. Valentine’s Day. This idea was further popularized by writers such as William Shakespeare.
By the 15th and 16th centuries, handwritten love notes, or "valentines," became popular in England and France. The first mass-produced Valentine's Day cards emerged in the 19th century with advances in printing technology.

By the early 20th century, Valentine's Day had become commercialized, with greeting cards, chocolates, and flowers becoming standard gifts. Today, the holiday is celebrated worldwide, not only in Western countries but also in places like Japan, South Korea, and China, where unique Valentine’s traditions have developed.

Despite its historical and commercial transformations, Valentine’s Day remains a heady celebration of love, romance, and heartfelt connections.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours♥

(c) 2025 Jill Reid

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Why Do We Celebrate Valentine's Day? The Answer Might Surprise You ...

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