Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? The story of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has become a day when people all over the world express their love for their partners or other family members by exchanging gifts and cards. In some cases, Valentine’s gifts are given to pets, teachers, grandparents, and parents. Valentine’s is still a day when many people propose to their partners or even ask out someone they admire from a distance. So when you’re deciding what gift to give this year for Valentine’s Day or what restaurant you’d like your partner to treat you to, or while you’re eating your way to the bottom of another box of chocolates or choosing the perfect message card and more ‘traditions’ of Valentine’s Day, consider the origins of this day, as they are often forgotten.
The history of the day itself is shrouded in mystery and there are a few different versions of essentially the same story, however many believe that Valentine’s Day is actually named after one of three saints to have ever been named by that name. February was traditionally a month of romance for both Romans and Christians and many practices have merged over the centuries. It is believed that instead of February 14 being the day Saint Valentine was executed, it was more likely that the Christian Church chose it to coincide with the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which was a fertility festival involving the sacrifice of a goat (for fertility) and a dog (for purification).
Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, all the stories emphasize his appeal as a compassionate, heroic, and romantic figure. It will come as no surprise then that Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France during the Middle Ages. Who was Valentine? One of the three Valentines was a priest who is believed to have secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men after Roman Emperor Claudius II banned marriage believing unmarried men made better soldiers. Claudio found out about Valentine’s actions and had him arrested, imprisoned, and eventually executed.
Apparently, the night before Valentine’s execution, he himself would have written the first “Valentine’s” card, addressed to a young woman who, according to popular belief, was the daughter of the blind jailer whom Valentine befriended and cured. It was a note that said “From your Valentine.”
Approximately 141 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second most popular holiday for sending cards after Christmas.
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