Valentine's Day has a complex history that weaves together ancient Roman festivals, early Christian martyrdom, medieval literature, and centuries of evolving traditions. The holiday we celebrate today on February 14th bears only a loose resemblance to its historical roots.
Ancient Roman Foundations
The story begins in ancient Rome with Lupercalia, a fertility festival held annually from February 13-15. This raucous celebration honored Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. During Lupercalia, priests called Luperci would sacrifice goats and dogs, then use strips of the hides to whip women in the streets—a practice believed to promote fertility. The festival also included a matchmaking lottery where young men drew the names of women from a jar, pairing them for the duration of the festival and sometimes longer.
The Christian Martyrs Named Valentine
The connection to Saint Valentine is murky and disputed. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all martyred on February 14th in different years during the third century AD. The most popular legends surround two figures:
One account describes Valentine as a priest in Rome during Emperor Claudius II's reign around 270 AD. Claudius had banned marriage for young men, believing single soldiers fought better than married ones. Valentine defied this decree and continued performing marriages in secret for young lovers. When discovered, he was executed.
Another legend suggests Valentine was killed for helping Christians escape brutal Roman prisons. According to this tale, while imprisoned himself, Valentine fell in love with his jailer's daughter and sent her the first "valentine" greeting, signing it "From your Valentine"—a phrase still used today.
However, these romantic narratives likely emerged centuries after the actual events and may be more legend than historical fact. Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine's Day around 496 AD, possibly as an effort to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, though this theory is debated by historians.
Medieval Romance and Courtly Love
The transformation of Valentine's Day into a celebration of romantic love didn't occur until the Middle Ages. During this period, the tradition of courtly love flourished in France and England, and people began associating mid-February with romance, perhaps because it coincided with the beginning of birds' mating season.
The poet Geoffrey Chaucer is often credited with cementing this association. In his 1382 poem "Parliament of Foules," written to honor the first anniversary of King Richard II's engagement to Anne of Bohemia, Chaucer wrote: "For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate." This appears to be the first recorded connection between St. Valentine's Day and romantic love.
Following Chaucer, other medieval writers picked up the theme. By the 15th century, Valentine's Day had become an occasion for lovers in Europe to express their affection through flowers, confections, and handwritten notes.
The Evolution of Valentine Cards
The oldest known valentine still in existence was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The verse, preserved in the British Library, reads in part: "Je suis desja d'amour tanné, Ma tres doulce Valentinée" ("I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine").
By the 17th century, exchanging handmade cards, flowers, and small tokens had become common in England. These early valentines were often elaborate, decorated with lace, ribbons, and romantic imagery. However, mass production transformed the tradition entirely.
In 1913, Hallmark Cards began mass-producing valentine cards in the United States, making them affordable and accessible to everyone. Today, approximately 145 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually in the US alone, making it the second-largest card-sending holiday after Christmas.
Commercialization and Modern Traditions
The 19th and 20th centuries saw Valentine's Day become increasingly commercialized. Chocolate manufacturers like Cadbury began creating heart-shaped boxes of chocolates in the 1860s. The tradition of giving flowers, particularly red roses symbolizing love and passion, became standardized. Jewelry, romantic dinners, and elaborate gestures gradually became expected parts of the celebration.
The holiday spread globally through Western cultural influence, though it has been adapted differently across cultures. In Japan, for instance, women traditionally give chocolate to men on February 14th, with men reciprocating on "White Day" a month later. Some countries have resisted or rebranded the holiday, viewing it as an unwelcome import of Western commercialism.
The Enduring Mystery
Despite centuries of celebration, the true origins of Valentine's Day remain somewhat mysterious. We don't know with certainty which Saint Valentine the holiday honors, whether it truly replaced Lupercalia, or exactly how it evolved from honoring a Christian martyr to celebrating romantic love. What's clear is that Valentine's Day represents a fascinating blend of ancient ritual, religious commemoration, literary tradition, and commercial innovation—a holiday that has continuously reinvented itself to reflect society's changing attitudes toward love and romance.
