The History of Valentine’s Day:
Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a day synonymous with love, flowers, chocolates, and romantic cards. It has become a worldwide celebration of affection.
How Did It All Begin?
The history of Valentine’s Day is a blend of ancient rituals, romantic legends, and a few events that have shaped it into the holiday we know today.
The Beginnings in Ancient Rome: The Festival of Lupercalia
The roots of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the ancient Romans, who had a celebration known as Lupercalia, which took place in mid-February. Lupercalia was an ancient fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.
The Christian Connection: Saint Valentine
As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, many such pagan festivals morphed to align with the newer Christian beliefs. . Around the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I officially replaced Lupercalia with Saint Valentine’s Day on February 14th.
There are several theories about the identity of Saint Valentine. One involves Valentine of Rome, a priest who defied the orders of Emperor Claudius II. The emperor had banned marriages for young soldiers, believing that single men made better fighters. Valentine, however, secretly married young couples in love, defying the emperor. Valentine was arrested and eventually executed on February 14th, around the year 269 AD.
The Middle Ages:
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day had evolved into a more romantic holiday. In 1382, Chaucer wrote a poem titled “Parliament of Foules”, which contained the earliest known association between St. Valentine’s Day and love. In the poem, he wrote:
“For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”
This romantic idea of Valentine’s Day began to spread among the upper classes. The idea of courtly love became a popular theme in literature, and St. Valentine’s Day emerged as a time for lovers to express their feelings through poems, songs, and gifts.
The Renaissance:
Handmade cards became popular in the 15th and 16th centuries, especially among the wealthy.
The first mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards were in the early 19th century in England. Prudence Hall, an English artist, is often credited with creating the first commercially sold Valentine’s Day cards, which were elaborately decorated with flowers, lace, and romantic verses.
By the 1840s, the practice of sending Valentine’s Day cards had become widespread, with the cards becoming more affordable due to the introduction of new printing technologies.
The American Influence:
It wasn’t until the 19th century that Valentine’s Day truly took hold in the United States. The holiday began to be popular in the 1800s, particularly through the efforts of Esther A. Howland, an American woman who became known as the “Mother of the Valentine.” She began making elaborate, handmade cards decorated with lace, and ribbons, which became very popular across the country.
By the early 20th century, companies like Hallmark began mass-producing greeting cards pretty much making it a commercial holiday.
I remember when I was a little girl in the 1950’s we gave a Valentine card to each of our classmates. The small cards were often sold in packages of 10 or 20. I would select each card carefully for each of my friends and then the acquaintances.
Today, of course Valentine’s Day is a global celebration of love.
Whether it’s through heartfelt cards, surprise gifts, or simply a nice dinner, Valentine’s Day offers a chance to focus on the people who make our lives special.
