Articles » Valentine Day: Facts and Legends
By: Debra Howard
Valentine Day: Facts and Legends
The mention of Valentine’s Day brings up one of two emotions: anticipation or dread,
depending on your situation. For those that are happily attached, even in a new relationship, thoughts are focused on love and the giving of cards, flowers, candy and/or jewelry.
However, for the single population, thoughts of Valentine’s Day is a reminder of what is “not” present in your life and therefore does not carry the same emotional high. For this group, Valentine’s Day has been replaced by “Single Awareness Day” to remind the “partnered” population that not everyone shares the same sentiment.
Regardless of your situation, Valentine’s Day remains to be one of the biggest card-giving celebrated holidays in our culture. 188 million Valentine’s Cards are exchanged every year according to Hallmark. So how did this holiday come to be and why is it called “Valentine’s Day” instead of “Love Day” or “Sweetheart’s Day?”
Although facts are a bit fuzzy surrounding the tradition, one legend has it that Saint Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome in the third century. At that time Emperor Claudius II was in power and had outlawed marriage. He decided that married men with wives and families were not as good at soldiering as those that were single. Wanting to bolster his army, Claudius II quickly made it the law. Valentine was outraged by this decree and began secretly marrying young lovers. Upon learning of Saint Valentine’s actions, Claudius II was furious and ordered the priest’s imprisonment and ultimate death.
As Saint Valentine sat imprisoned, the story goes that he had many visitors. One female visitor captured his heart and before he was executed he sent her a note and signed it “from your Valentine.”
Another legend originates from the pagan celebration of Lupercalia festival. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture. Goats were first sacrificed, then their hide torn into strips and then dipped in the sacrificial blood. Young boys took to the streets with these bloody strips, gently slapping women and fields of crops hoping to assure fertility. The single women would then place their names in a large urn and the city’s bachelors would choose a name to become paired. This Roman lottery system for marriage took place around the middle of February and coincided with the beginning of the bird’s mating season on February 14th. Although the lottery system was later outlawed, February 14th was still deemed a day for romance.
It wasn’t until the middle of the eighteenth century that lovers began to exchange handwritten notes. Printed cards replaced the handwritten versions by the end of that century. The romantic cards were a way for people to express their most intimate feelings during a time when outward displays of affection were shunned.
Regardless of the origin of this holiday, card exchanges continue to be the most popular form of celebrating in today’s world. From children’s prepackaged Valentines, to online Valentine sentiments, to the traditional Valentine’s Day cards combined with the exchange of both modest and extravagant gifts, retailers around the globe continue to profit from this holiday of love.
Fortunately for many, it is also a holiday that offers options even for the worst procrastinators. Cards, flowers and candy are found in abundance and are easily accessible even at the eleventh hour. For a small investment, taking the time to select a card is well worth the expression on their loved ones faces. And for many, that fact alone keeps the Valentine’s Day tradition alive and well.
depending on your situation. For those that are happily attached, even in a new relationship, thoughts are focused on love and the giving of cards, flowers, candy and/or jewelry. However, for the single population, thoughts of Valentine’s Day is a reminder of what is “not” present in your life and therefore does not carry the same emotional high. For this group, Valentine’s Day has been replaced by “Single Awareness Day” to remind the “partnered” population that not everyone shares the same sentiment.
Regardless of your situation, Valentine’s Day remains to be one of the biggest card-giving celebrated holidays in our culture. 188 million Valentine’s Cards are exchanged every year according to Hallmark. So how did this holiday come to be and why is it called “Valentine’s Day” instead of “Love Day” or “Sweetheart’s Day?”
Although facts are a bit fuzzy surrounding the tradition, one legend has it that Saint Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome in the third century. At that time Emperor Claudius II was in power and had outlawed marriage. He decided that married men with wives and families were not as good at soldiering as those that were single. Wanting to bolster his army, Claudius II quickly made it the law. Valentine was outraged by this decree and began secretly marrying young lovers. Upon learning of Saint Valentine’s actions, Claudius II was furious and ordered the priest’s imprisonment and ultimate death.
As Saint Valentine sat imprisoned, the story goes that he had many visitors. One female visitor captured his heart and before he was executed he sent her a note and signed it “from your Valentine.”
Another legend originates from the pagan celebration of Lupercalia festival. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture. Goats were first sacrificed, then their hide torn into strips and then dipped in the sacrificial blood. Young boys took to the streets with these bloody strips, gently slapping women and fields of crops hoping to assure fertility. The single women would then place their names in a large urn and the city’s bachelors would choose a name to become paired. This Roman lottery system for marriage took place around the middle of February and coincided with the beginning of the bird’s mating season on February 14th. Although the lottery system was later outlawed, February 14th was still deemed a day for romance.
It wasn’t until the middle of the eighteenth century that lovers began to exchange handwritten notes. Printed cards replaced the handwritten versions by the end of that century. The romantic cards were a way for people to express their most intimate feelings during a time when outward displays of affection were shunned.
Regardless of the origin of this holiday, card exchanges continue to be the most popular form of celebrating in today’s world. From children’s prepackaged Valentines, to online Valentine sentiments, to the traditional Valentine’s Day cards combined with the exchange of both modest and extravagant gifts, retailers around the globe continue to profit from this holiday of love.
Fortunately for many, it is also a holiday that offers options even for the worst procrastinators. Cards, flowers and candy are found in abundance and are easily accessible even at the eleventh hour. For a small investment, taking the time to select a card is well worth the expression on their loved ones faces. And for many, that fact alone keeps the Valentine’s Day tradition alive and well.
Written by Debra Howard for TucsonHomeandGardenSpot.com copyright 2008. Historical data source www.history.com Debra is a former Interior Designer, retailer, and amateur gardener who now spends her time helping small businesses gain more exposure on the web through her company Creative Edge Marketing Company. No part of this article may be reproduced without written consent.