Valentine's Day: History and Traditions

Valentine's Day History

• Celebrated annually on February 14th, this year it falls on a Friday.
• Valentine's Day is celebrated globally with the exchange of gifts, flowers, and candy between loved ones.
• The origins of Valentine's Day are rooted in both ancient Roman traditions and Christian beliefs.
• The holiday is associated with Saint Valentine.
• The figure of Saint Valentine is surrounded by mystery.
• There are several legends about the saint, some suggesting he was a priest who defied the emperor by performing marriages, or helped Christians escape Roman prisons, or even possibly was a bishop who resisted the emperor.
• The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints with the name Valentine or Valentinus.
• Several traditions are connected to different interpretations of the saint's life and actions.
• One significant legend relates this festivity to the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia, a celebration of spring and fertility.
• A fertility ritual involved the goat's hide being used to touch women, which was believed to enhance fertility.
• Early Christians made efforts to replace the pagan traditions with their own, contributing to the development of Valentine's Day traditions.
• The day became associated with love and romance, particularly in England and France.
• By 1400, written Valentine's greetings emerged and continued to gain popularity throughout the Middle Ages.
• In 1415, a love letter is thought to have been one of the earliest recorded Valentine's Day messages, written by Charles, Duke of Orleans.
• The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, notably wrote about Valentine's Day in his 1375 poem, "Parliament of Fowls".
• The tradition of exchanging cards became popular in the 1800s, spurred by Esther A. Howland
• Hand-made valentines and later mass-produced cards are notable components of the celebrations, reaching an estimated 145 million cards exchanged currently, (second only to Christmas cards).
• Cupid, the traditional symbol of love featured in Valentine's Day imagery, has historical roots in Greek mythology.
• The widespread tradition of exchanging greetings and gifts evolved throughout the centuries and helped establish Valentine's Day's position within the cultural calendar.