With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it brings different feelings for different people. For some, it signals the arrival of spring and the promise of new love. For others, it’s just another day on the calendar. And for some, it's a day they'd rather avoid—whether it's the overwhelming commercialisation or more personal reasons, like memories of lost or unfulfilled love.
Whether we love this day or loathe it, Valentine’s Day has become a firm fixture on the calendar, but how did it all begin?
The origins of Valentine’s Day are complex, originating from a variety of sources including pagan rights, early Christianity, and evolving social practices. Understanding the history of Valentine's Day means exploring these diverse origins and the cultural shifts that transformed it into the modern celebration we recognize today.
The Ancient Origins of Valentine’s Day
The Roman Festival of Lupercalia
One of the most significant early sources of Valentine’s Day is the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Lupercalia, which was held from February 13th - 15th, was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman gods of Faunus (the god of agriculture) and Lupercus (a protector against wolves). The festival was intended to cleanse the city and to promote fertility in both humans and animals.
Rituals and Traditions of Lupercalia
One of the central activities of the festival was rather gory, involving a group of priests known as the Luperci, who would sacrifice a goat and a dog in a cave known as the Lupercal. The blood of these animals was then smeared on the foreheads of two young men, who would run through the streets of Rome, striking women with pieces of the goat's hide.
The belief was that the touch of the goat hide would purify the woman and promote fertility. Women who wanted to conceive would eagerly welcome the strikes.
Additionally, Lupercalia included a matchmaking ritual, where young women would write their names on slips of paper and place them in an urn. Single men would then draw names, and the couple formed would spend the rest of the festival together, sometimes even forming temporary romantic or sexual partnerships, possibly leading to something more lasting after the festival. This element of the festival was an important precursor to the association of February with love and courtship.
The Influence of Christianity on Valentine’s Day
The Story of Saint Valentine
Over time, as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, many of these more pagan elements were disapproved of, and efforts were made to replace the festival with Christian celebration as part of the general drive to diminish paganism by substituting pagan festivals with special days in the Christian calendar.
One of the key figures in the transformation of the pagan festival into Valentine’s Day is of course, Saint Valentine. There are several different stories about the life of Saint Valentine, and historians are not certain which, if any, of these stories are based on a real historical figure. Nevertheless, over time, these stories have come to be closely connected to the celebration of love.
How Christianity Replaced Pagan Traditions
The most widely known version of the Saint Valentine story is based on a priest in third-century Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The emperor did not allow soldiers to marry as he believed that single men made better soldiers. However, Valentine secretly married young soldiers to their loved one in defiance of the emperor’s policy. When Claudius discovered Valentine’s actions, he had the priest arrested and he was eventually executed on February 14th.
The Establishment of Saint Valentine’s Feast Day
In another version of the story, Valentine is said to have healed the jailer's blind daughter, and before his execution, he sent her a note signed "From your Valentine," a phrase that became strongly associated with modern Valentine’s Day greetings. The connection between Valentine, love, and sacrifice becoming a key part of the Valentine’s Day celebration.
Over time, the Christian church moved to associate Saint Valentine’s Day with romantic love, possibly in an effort to replace the pagan festival of Lupercalia with a Christian holiday. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th to be the feast day of Saint Valentine. The holiday was, however, initially a solemn day focused on honouring the martyrdom of Saint Valentine rather than celebrating romantic love. The connection between Saint Valentine and romantic love, it seems, was a later development, likely emerging during the Middle Ages.
The Evolution of Valentine’s Day Through History
Valentine’s Day in the Middle Ages
By the Middle Ages, February 14th had become increasingly associated with the idea of romantic love, though it was still celebrated as a Christian holiday. The notion of romantic love began to gain prominence in European culture during the 12th and 13th centuries, particularly through the concept of courtly love.
The Rise of Courtly Love and Romantic Traditions
Courtly love was a chivalric tradition that idealised the love between knights and ladies, often in a context of unrequited or unattainable love. This tradition found its expression in the literature and poetry of the time, especially through the works of poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer.
Chaucer’s Role in Shaping Valentine’s Day
Chaucer’s 14th-century poem "Parliament of Foules" can be seen as a key text in associating Valentine’s Day with romantic love. The idea that Saint Valentine’s Day was a time for birds and, by extension, humans to find their romantic partners, became a highly popular motif in medieval literature.
The Spread of Valentine's Day Across Europe
The Commercialisation of Valentine’s Day
The Tradition of Exchanging Valentine’s Cards
These notes, or "valentines," were very often poems or songs expressing love for the recipient. The practice of sending valentines became so popular that by the 17th century, printed valentines, often adorned with illustrations or verses, began to be sold.
The tradition of sending romantic messages on Valentine's Day spread to other parts of Europe. The sentiment behind the valentine notes often followed the earlier conventions of courtly love, where an individual might express longing, devotion, or admiration for their beloved.
Valentine's Day in Literature
A sign of Valentine’s Day being further established in British culture, can be found in Thomas Hardy’s book, Far from the Madding Crowd published in 1874, with the heroine Bathsheba, sending as a cruel joke, an anonymous valentine’s card to Farmer Bowood, with some unfortunate and catastrophic consequences.
The Rise of Valentine’s Day Commercialisation
In the 19th century, Valentine’s Day underwent a significant transformation as it became increasingly commercialised. One of the key figures in this development was Esther A. Howland, an American entrepreneur who is credited with creating the first commercially successful Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s. Howland’s cards were elaborate and decorated with lace, ribbons, and intricate designs, catering for or possibly helping to create a strong demand for romantic tokens of affection on this special day.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Valentine's Day had become the celebration that we know. The exchange of romantic cards and gifts became widespread, and other symbols of love, such as roses, chocolates, and heart-shaped decorations, became synonymous with the holiday.
The Global Spread of Valentine’s Day
The commercialisation of Valentine’s Day continued on through the 20th century, and by the 1950s it had become a truly global phenomenon. Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, though the traditions and customs vary widely as it is influenced by local culture.
Valentine’s Day Today
Today, Valentine's Day is one of the most commercially successful holidays, with retailers and restaurateurs benefiting from large amounts being spent on cards, flowers, chocolates, gifts and romantic meals out. However, the core of the celebration still revolves around an opportunity to express love and affection for that someone special, whether through handwritten notes, gifts, or simply in spending quality time with a loved one.
Criticism and Cultural Perspectives
Some critics argue that Valentine’s Day has become exploited and overly materialistic, while others embrace it as a fun and festive opportunity to express love.
The Rich Origins of Valentine’s Day
The origins of Valentine’s Day then, are rich and multifaceted, rooted in ancient paganism, Roman traditions, Christian martyrdom, medieval courtly love, and modern commercialization. From the fertility rituals of Lupercalia to the romantic poetry and literature of the likes of Chaucer and Hardy, to the mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards that began to appear in the 19th century, the evolution of this holiday reflects the developing cultural shifts and changing attitudes toward love, affection, and relationships.
Although the specific customs and practices associated with Valentine’s Day have evolved over time, the central theme of love has remained a constant. Whether celebrated through romantic gestures, acts of kindness, or simply acknowledging the people we care about, Valentine’s Day continues to be a powerful reminder of the importance of love and human connection in all of our lives.
The County Register Matchmaking: Find Your Valentine
If the arrival of Valentine's Day prompts within you the desire to find love, then why not speak to us in confidence at The County Register. Our friendly membership advisers are always on hand to run you through how our professional matchmaking service works, including the dating membership options that are available to you.
Call us today on 0800 644 4110, or fill out our simple contact form to get started. We can’t wait to hear from you!
