Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love and affection between dating partners, friends and family, annually celebrated on Feb. 14. Nowadays, it’s celebrated with gift exchanges, romantic dinners and heartfelt messages. However, its origins are in ancient Roman history and tradition.
The day is named after Saint Valentine, who was a clergyman (priest or bishop) in the Roman Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians. There are many different legends about him, but one of the popular ones is that Valentine was a priest who secretly arranged marriages for couples. This was during a time where Emperor Claudius II banned marriages to ensure that soldiers would remain unattached and focused on war. For his crimes, Valentine was imprisoned and later executed on Feb. 14. Overtime, the day became associated with love and romance.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s day had evolved into a celebration of love, where traditions of writing romance verses and letters became popular throughout Europe. The first Valentine’s Day poem that was recorded was given by Charles d’Orléans, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned at the Tower of London in 1415. Years later, King Henry V. hired a writer named Lydgate to write a Valentine’s note to his wife, Catherine of Valois. Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide but their customs vary because of different cultures. In the U.S., it’s a major holiday. Billions of dollars ($25.9 billion as of 2023 Valentine’s Day) are spent yearly on chocolates, flowers, cards and jewelry. Couples usually exchange heartfelt gifts as tokens of affection, while others take the opportunity to give appreciation to their families and friends.
In other countries, like Japan and South Korea, women traditionally give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day and the men return the gesture on March 14 which is known as White Day. Meanwhile in Finland and Estonia, Valentine’s day is more about friendship than romance, so they renamed the day to “Friend’s Day.” Critics often point to the advertisement of the holiday arguing that its true meaning has been overshadowed by the consumers.
Valentine’s Day continues to serve as a reminder to spread love and gratitude, whether through grand gestures or small and simple acts of kindness. Valentine’s day is used as a chance to reflect on the importance of love and connection in all its different forms.
