There’s nothing better than celebrating Valentine’s Day. Not only do you get the opportunity to express your love, but it’s also a day that you feel cherished. Even though you appreciate your significant other throughout the year, 14 February has become a day you could shamelessly shower them with chocolates, flowers, diamond jewellery and other gifts. It’s an annual tradition that we’ve all come to know and love, but where exactly does the idea behind Valentine’s Day come from?
14 February has become the day we celebrate our love for one another
FROM YOUR VALENTINE, SAINT VALENTINE
When it comes to the history of Valentine’s Day there are a few different versions. The most popular background story of the day is the one of a priest called, Saint Valentine – the man Valentine’s Day was named after. During the third century in Rome the emperor, Claudius II ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods. Saint Valentine, who practised Christianity, refused to give in to his orders and was arrested and sentenced to death.
During his time in captivity, Saint Valentine’s jailer asked if he could bring his daughter, Julia for lessons. The jailer’s daughter was blind and with Saint Valentine being a knowledgeable man, he hoped his daughter would benefit from his company. He agreed and used his time in captivity to read stories to her about Roman history. Saint Valentine spoke to her about nature and religion and soon Julia began to see the world through his eyes. It was rumoured that the two eventually fell in love, and the evening before his death (the night before 14 February) he wrote his final letter to Julia signing it, “From your Valentine” – an expression we still use today.
Saint Valentine is widely recognised as the saint of love
A SECRET MARRIAGE, SAINT VALENTINE
Another version of the story involves Saint Valentine being arrested and sentenced to death after performing wedding ceremonies for young soldiers against Claudius II’s orders. The emperor believed that single men made better soldiers opposed to those with children and wives. He then decided to ban marriage for younger men. Being the romantic he is, Saint Valentine went against the emperor’s wishes and performed the wedding ceremonies in secret. When Claudius II found out, Saint Valentine was sentenced to death. He then met his jailer’s daughter, Julia, and fell in love. Like the story above, the day before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote her a letter and signed it, “From your Valentine”.
Saint Valentine performed secret wedding ceremonies for young soldiers
GREAT ESCAPES, SAINT VALENTINE
In other stories, Saint Valentine was sentenced to death after he tried to rescue Christians from Roman prisons. The legend involved these prisoners being treated poorly due to them not following Claudius II’s rules. But, Saint Valentine refused to stand back and see his fellow Christians be treated unfairly. After his attempt to help prisoners break free, Saint Valentine was arrested, thrown in jail and sentenced to death. Once again the story ends with Saint Valentine meeting, Julia and falling in love, only to write the famous last letter he signed, “From your Valentine.”
Even though the true story behind Saint Valentine’s circ*mstance in meeting Julia is uncertain, the essence of the legend remains the same. Saint Valentine was a man with passion and commitment, who came across as a heroic saint during the third century in Rome. He fell in love and because of his sympathy towards humankind he was sentenced to death. But, his famous last words, “From your Valentine” has been carried out until this day. Today he is widely known as the saint of love.
He rescued prisoners, who were treated unfairly from the Roman jail cells
WHEN DID VALENTINE’S DAY BECOME OFFICIAL?
While most believe that Valentine’s Day has become the anniversary of Saint Valentine’s death on 14 February, others believe the Christian church declared St. Valentine’s Day festival to replace a celebration called, Lupercalia. This former pagan celebration was considered a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus.
Valentine’s Day replaced a pagan festival called, Lupercalia
At the end of the 5th Century, Pope Gelasius made Valentine’s Day official. But it was only during the Middle Ages that the day became associated with romance. The 1400s saw the rise of beautiful handwritten love letters also known as Valentine’s Day cards. Soon, couples in love dedicated the romantic day to their significant others. A popular way couples in love used to show affection was by spoiling each other with the gift of diamonds – a true symbol of love.
Today, February is known for being the month of love. Even though we cherish the love we have for each other throughout the year, Valentine’s Day has become a significant day we put aside to appreciate the special someone in our life. It’s the time we show our unconditional love for our partners with gifts they can treasure forever. On 14 February we share the love we have for one another with romantic gestures all around the world. What better way to show someone you love them, than with a gift of diamonds they will treasure forever.
FAQs
The 1400's saw the rise of beautiful handwritten love letters also known as Valentine's Day cards. Soon, couples in love dedicated the romantic day to their significant others. A popular way couples in love used to show affection was by spoiling each other with the gift of diamonds – a true symbol of love.
What is the purpose of the Valentine's day event? ›
St Valentine's Day is an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship and admiration. Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends.
What is the reason for celebrating Valentine's day? ›
The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring.
What is the story behind Valentine's day? ›
Valentine's Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century. Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 ce by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus.
What is the mystery behind Valentine's day? ›
While the date is meant to honor Saint Valentine's death and burial, which supposedly occurred in mid-February around 270 AD, some historians believe the date could reflect the Catholic Church's attempt to replace the ancient Pagan celebration of Lupercalia — a fertility festival for the pagan agricultural god Faunus — ...
What are the purposes of Valentine? ›
Valentine's Day is an opportunity to show affection or celebrate romance with cards, flowers, and candy. It's a good day for sweethearts, but it can also be a reminder of how expressions of love and caring may benefit the body.
What is the purpose of Happy Valentine's day? ›
Over time, Valentine's Day evolved into a celebration of love and romance. It spread through Europe during the Middle Ages and gained popularity with the exchange of handmade cards and tokens of affection. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated worldwide as a day to express love and appreciation for loved ones.
What is Valentine's Day's spiritual meaning? ›
While the holiday has undergone secularization over time, its origins in Christian martyrdom and acts of love align with broader spiritual themes of compassion, selflessness, and devotion. For some, Valentine's Day serves as a reminder of the importance of love in both human relationships and spiritual practice.
What is the message of Valentine's day? ›
Valentine's Day Meaning: A Day of Romance and Love.
What is the dark history of Valentine's day? ›
One Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome who defied Emperor Claudius II after the ruler outlawed marriage for young men. St. Valentine would perform marriages in secret for young lovers, ultimately leading to his death.
valentine in British English
1. a card or gift expressing love or affection, sent, often anonymously, to one's sweetheart or satirically to a friend, on Saint Valentine's Day. 2. a sweetheart selected for such a greeting. Collins English Dictionary.
What does the Bible say about Valentine's day? ›
1 John 4:7-12. Dear friends: let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
What are three traditions associated with Valentine's day? ›
Celebrating Valentine's Day in the United States comes with multiple go-to practices. Offering a bouquet of red roses to your beloved. Purchasing a card with a heartfelt message. Sharing a candlelit meal with your partner.
What's the point of Valentines day? ›
Valentine's Day, which is also known as St Valentine's Day, is celebrated every year on the 14 February around the world. For many, it's a special time in the year when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love.
Should Christians celebrate Valentine's day? ›
If that works for you, do it. But the biblical pattern teaches us that romantic love between husband and wife should be on display often and much. It isn't that celebrating Valentine's Day is too much; it is too little and weak. Christians, live your married years so that you don't need Valentine's Day.
What weird history fact can we find about Valentine's day? ›
Some trace Valentine's Day origins to a Christian effort to replace a pagan fertility festival that has been dated as far back as the 6th century B.C. During the festival of Lupercalia, Roman priests would sacrifice goats and dogs and use their blood-soaked hides to slap women on the streets, as a fertility blessing.
What is the concept behind valentines day? ›
Another story claims that St. Valentine sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after falling in love with a young woman, possibly his jailer's daughter, while imprisoned. By the Middle Ages, Valentine's Day had evolved into a day associated with courtly love and romantic expression in Europe.
Is there a point to Valentine's day? ›
“Ultimately, V-Day is often a day to express love and affection toward your partner, so for those who have personal reasons for not wanting to celebrate, I encourage them just to see it as another day to express love for the person(s) in their life who deserve their flowers 365 days of the year.” So even if one half of ...
