Valentine’s Day is a popular celebration of love and romance that occurs every February 14. But do you know the origin and meaning of this holiday? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the history of Valentine’s Day.
Who was Saint Valentine?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend says that Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome in the third century AD. He defied the emperor’s order that banned young men from marrying, and secretly performed weddings for Christian couples. He was arrested and executed by beheading. Another legend says that Valentine was a bishop of Terni, who also suffered the same fate. A third legend says that Valentine was a prisoner who fell in love with his jailer’s daughter, and wrote her a letter signed “from your Valentine” before his death.
How did Valentine’s Day become a celebration of love?
The origin of Valentine’s Day as a celebration of love and romance is not very clear, but it is believed to have roots in both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. According to one theory, Valentine’s Day is linked to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was held in mid-February. The festival celebrated the coming of spring, fertility, and the pairing of women with men by lottery. At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day, to honor the Christian martyr. According to another theory, Valentine’s Day is influenced by the medieval belief that birds began their mating season on February 14. This idea was popularized by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote in his poem “Parliament of Fowls” that “on Valentine’s Day every bird chooses his mate.”
What are the symbols and traditions of Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is associated with various symbols and traditions that express love and affection. Some of the most common ones are:
- Hearts: Hearts are considered the seat of emotion and the source of life. They are often used to represent love and devotion. The shape of the heart may have been inspired by the shape of ivy leaves, which were associated with fidelity in ancient times.
- Cupid: Cupid is the Roman god of love, who is depicted as a winged boy with a bow and arrow. He is the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars, the god of war. According to mythology, he can make people fall in love by shooting them with his arrows.
- Roses: Roses are the most popular flowers given on Valentine’s Day, especially red roses, which symbolize passion and romance. The color and number of roses can also convey different meanings, such as white for purity, yellow for friendship, and 12 for complete love.
- Chocolates: Chocolates are a sweet treat that are often given as a gift on Valentine’s Day. They are made from cacao beans, which were considered a delicacy by the Aztecs and the Mayans. The Spanish explorers brought cacao to Europe, where it was mixed with sugar and other ingredients to create chocolate. Chocolate was believed to have aphrodisiac properties and to stimulate the production of endorphins, the hormones of happiness.
- Cards: Cards are a way of expressing one’s feelings and sentiments on Valentine’s Day. They are also known as valentines, and can be handwritten or printed. The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s by Esther Howland, who is known as the “Mother of the Valentine”. Today, millions of cards are exchanged every year on Valentine’s Day, making it the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas.
