Valentine’s Day was not always about Hallmark cards and boxes of chocolates. It actually has its roots in ancient Rome, with the festival of Lupercalia.
Held in mid-February, this was a celebration of fertility and the coming of spring. While this is far from the romantic holiday we celebrate today, Lupercalia laid the foundation for what became a global celebration of love.
When Christianity gained more popularity in Rome and the surrounding areas, the pagan festival was replaced by St. Valentine’s Day, named after a priest who married couples in secret, defying the orders of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius II believed single men made better soldiers, thus banning marriages for young men. According to legend, Valentine was imprisoned and sent a love letter to the jailer’s daughter just before his execution, signing it: “from your Valentine.” This sweet gesture still lives on in the cards we send out today.
As time went on, Valentine’s Day continued to change. By the Middle Ages, it came to be celebrated as a day of courtly love, thanks to poets like Geoffery Chaucer, who wrote about lovebirds finding their mates on Feb. 14. This idea caught on quickly, and soon people all across Europe were writing love notes and exchanging small trinkets as a show of affection. The oldest known valentine was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, Valentine’s Day was gaining popularity in America, courtesy of Esther Howland, who made beautiful, handcrafted cards decorated with lace, ribbons and elaborate paper cutouts. These cards kickstarted a long-standing tradition of sending notes to loved ones.
Now, Valentine’s Day is a holiday filled with a rich variety of traditions, from boxes of chocolates to bouquets of flowers to fancy dinners and surprise gifts. But no matter how you are spending the holiday, take a moment to appreciate the rich history of Valentine’s Day and all the sweet treats that come with it.
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