History of Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine and through later folk traditions, it has also become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
Although Valentine’s Day is often linked to romance, the celebration wasn’t exactly romantic in its beginnings. In order to help you plan, we’ve included information about Valentine’s Day’s history and the date of Valentine’s Day in 2024.
Numerous martyrdom narratives are linked to different Saint Valentines on February 14. One of these narratives describes Saint Valentine of Rome’s captivity for aiding persecuted Christians during the third century Roman Empire. An old legend states that Saint Valentine restored sight to his jailer’s blind daughter. An 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims that Saint Valentine wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution. Tradition holds that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor. Several later additions to the legend have better connected it to the theme of love.
The observance of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14 was documented in the 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary.
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In the 14th and 15th centuries, romantic love was linked to this day while ideas of courtly love were at their height, presumably because of its relationship with the “love birds” of early spring. It developed into a time for couples in 18th-century England to show their love for one another by giving flowers, candy, and greeting cards (called “valentines”).
Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged cupid. In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings. In Italy, Saint Valentine’s keys are given to lovers as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart, as well as to children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine’s Malady).
Saint Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in any country, although it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church.
In observance of Roman presbyter Saint Valentine on July 6 and Interamna Bishop Hieromartyr Valentine on July 30, many Eastern Orthodox churches also commemorate Saint Valentine’s Day.
Ten Fun Facts About Valentine’s Day:
1: The first Valentine’s Day letter was written in 1415.
2: Valentine’s Day wasn’t always associated with romantic love.
3: The first Valentine’s Day cards were handmade.
4: The most popular Valentine’s Day gifts are flowers and chocolates.
5: Valentine’s Day is a popular day for proposals and breakups 6: Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently around the world.
7: 250 million roses are given every Valentine’s Day.
8: Valentine’s Day is also celebrated by some animals.
9: St. Valentine wasn’t just one person.
10: The origins of Valentine’s Day are unclear.
