Although Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, many still do not know the true meaning and origin behind it. What we often perceive as a day of love and excessive spending on flowers and chocolates has a rather dark and grim history. The question is: what is the history behind the holiday we all know and love?
Who Was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine was a third-century Roman saint who was a priest in ancient Rome and also happens to be greatly associated with Valentine’s Day. According to NPR.org, Emperor Claudius II martyred two people, both named Valentine, on February 14th, in two different years. Valentine performed weddings on young couples, but once his actions were discovered, he got killed. His death was celebrated and honored for years to come.
How Does This Relate to Love?
Valentine’s Day was not associated with love until years later when a poet named Geoffrey Chaucer romanticized it. Geoffrey Chaucer has nothing to do with Roman martyring but a lot to do with the connection between Saint Valentine and love. According to walksofitaly.com, the first connection between love and Saint Valentine appeared in his poem, Parlement of Foules, which describes birds that choose their mates on St. Valentine’s Day. Chaucer used this to implement the newfound tradition of love, and he associated it with St. Valentine and February 14th. From this point on, Saint Valentine was always associated with the concept of love, which soon turned into a day: Valentine’s Day.
How has the Day Evolved?
During the Middle Ages, it was believed that February 14th was the beginning of the birds’ mating season, adding to the belief that Valentine’s Day is a day of love and romance. As the years went on, the meaning of Valentine’s became sweeter as Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer romanticized this day. Eventually, the tradition came to the mainland, where they began to mass-produce cards and chocolates to celebrate the day.
How Do We Celebrate Now?
As this tradition continues, many celebrate in different ways. Some will break the bank, spending money to buy their loved ones chocolate and flowers, while many will relax, watching rom-coms with their friends.
While Valentine’s Day has evolved from a not-so-romantic background, it has turned into a global holiday filled with love and joy for other people.
