In A.D. 496, February 14 was declared as Valentine’s Day by Saint Pope Gelasius. From then on, Valentine’s Day has been celebrated by young & happy couples all across the globe yearly. Characterized by hearts, flowers, gifts, and pink & red galore, the valentines we know of today are as a result of St. Valentine. The history of the holiday, though, is quite intriguing.
According to History.com, St. Valentine’s Day is composed of vestiges from Christian and Ancient Roman traditions. Interestingly enough there are three saints the Catholic Church acknowledges, either named ‘Valentine’ or ‘Valentinus,’ that all were martyred. ‘Valentine’ was a third century priest in Rome who quietly married young couples following Emperor Claudius II’s law that young men could not marry, as soldiers were better single than with wives or families. However, Valentine would later be executed for his actions. Other accounts suggest Valentine was killed after assisting Christians escape brutal Roman prisons, where “an imprisoned Valentine” formed the first ever “valentine” for a girl he met during confinement, allegedly signing “From your Valentine.”
The date Valentine’s Day lands on today was once the day before the Pagan Lupercalia festival on February 15, a Roman celebration of fertility. During said festival, Roman priests would slaughter goats and dogs, representing fertility and purification according to Medfield Historical Society. Eventually, Pope Gelasius outlawed Luperalia in favor of February 14th St. Valentine’s Day, though the day would not be recognized as a celebration of love & romance until the middle ages. It was during this timeframe that Valentine’s greetings sparked in popularity. Charles, Duke of Orleans during 1415, was being held captive in the battle of Agincourt, so he decided to write a poem to his wife in the Tower of London. Subsequently, King Henry V allegedly ordered John Lydgate, a writer, to craft a “valentine” similar to Charles’s for his wife Catherine of Valois. As a result, these valentines became a global sensation, where lovers would write affectionate letters and cards for one another.
In the present day, Valentine’s Day cards and items are constantly produced for the months of January and February, building up to the Valentine’s Day we all know of February 14.