Valentine’s Day celebrated annually on February 14th, is a holiday that is observed in many countries around the world. It’s a day that is associated with love and romance, and it’s a time when people exchange gifts, cards, and flowers with their loved ones. But what is the history behind this popular holiday?
Pagan Origin of Valentine’s Day
The origins of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to ancient Rome, where a festival called Lupercalia was celebrated in mid-February. This festival was a pagan celebration of fertility and was dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus, and the goddess of love, Juno. During the festival, young men and women would be paired up through a lottery, and this pairing often led to marriage.
Christian Origin of Valentine’s Day.
The Christian origins of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the Roman Empire, where Saint Valentine lived in the third century. Saint Valentine was a priest who was known for his kindness and compassion towards others. He is said to have performed secret marriages for young couples, which was against the law at the time.
When Emperor Claudius II banned marriages in an attempt to increase the number of soldiers in his army, Saint Valentine continued to perform secret marriages. As a result, he was imprisoned, and it’s said that he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Before he was executed on February 14th, he wrote a letter to her, which he signed “From Your Valentine.”
Valentine’s Day became associated with love and romance during the Middle Ages when the idea of courtly love became popular. This was a type of love that was often celebrated in literature and poetry, and it was associated with chivalry and nobility.
The first Valentine’s Day cards were exchanged in the 15th century, and the tradition of exchanging cards and gifts became more popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the United States, Esther Howland is credited with creating the first Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s.
Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world, and it’s a time for people to express their love and affection for their partners, family members, and friends. While the origins of the holiday are rooted in ancient history, the tradition of celebrating love and romance has continued to evolve and adapt to modern times.