Valentine’s Day probably brings flowers and chocolates to your mind, but before you start making Valentine’s Day cards and looking for the best gifts for Valentine’s Day, you might be wondering why we actually celebrate February 14th. Valentine’s Day is actually more than sweet gifts… So where does Valentine’s Day, February 14, come from? What is its history? Here is the history of February 14 Valentine’s Day…
The Origins of Valentine’s Day: A Pagan Festival in February
Some believe that Valentine’s Day was celebrated in mid-February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial, which probably occurred around AD 270, while others believe it is known as the Christian church’s feast day celebration of St. Valentine. It is also known as Valentine’s Day in English.
According to a legend, the origin of Valentine’s Day, February 14, is known as an ancient agricultural and human fertility festival. Between February 13 and 15, Romans celebrated the festival of Lupercalia. This festival was held in honor of Lupa, the wolf who was said to have nursed Romulus and Remus (who, according to legend, founded the city of Rome in 753 BC). The festival was also dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. This also meant starting to plant seeds and hoping for a productive crop year.
Legend of St. Valentine
According to another legend, Emperor Claudius II forbade soldiers from marrying. However, Valentine disobeyed orders and secretly married young couples to save the spouses from war. Valentine was imprisoned, tortured and killed.
According to another legend, in 496 AD, Pope Gelasius celebrated February 14 to honor fallen warriors, and the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day was born. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed Saint Valentine from the General Roman calendar due to the lack of reliable information about Saint Valentine. However, the church still recognizes St. Valentine as a saint. He is considered the Patron Saint of married couples, engaged couples, happy marriages, love, lovers and young people. It is represented by images with birds and roses, and its feast day is celebrated on February 14.
Valentine’s Day in the Middle Ages
Valentine’s Day probably owes its existence to the English writer and poet Geoffrey Chaucer. The bestselling author of The Canterbury Tales published a poem called “The Parliament of the Birds.” “Saint Valentines Day” is the day when birds choose their mates.
Valentine’s Day letters
With Chaucer’s poem, the idea that February 14 was the day of love quickly became popular. The first recorded Valentine’s Day letter dates from 1415 and was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Valentine’s Day letters, poems, and the shopping tradition reached the United States in the 1800s. The first versions of Valentine cards were made of satin and lace. They were decorated with flowers, ribbons and images of cupids or love birds.
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