Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Friday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts Howland’s contribution to the commercialization of Valentine’s Day helped establish the holiday as a significant occasion for gift-giving and expressing love. The Commercialization of Valentine’s Day. The modern celebration of Valentine’s Day as we know it today began to take shape in the 18th and 19th centuries. When did Valentine’s Day cards become commercially produced? Valentine’s Day cards started to be mass-produced in the 19th century. Esther A. Howland, an American, is often credited with creating the first commercial Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s. Why are roses associated with this day? Valentine’s Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, [1] is celebrated annually on February 14. [2] It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine , and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in The history of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Roman and Christian traditions, evolving over centuries into the celebration of love and affection that we recognize today. Despite its commercialization, many people view Valentine's Day as an opportunity to express their love and appreciation for their partners, friends, and family members. Pagan Origins From ancient martyrs to heart-shaped chocolates, the history of Valentine’s Day is rich with fascinating stories and misconceptions. 1. Saint Valentine and His Miraculous Love Letter. One of the most enduring myths associated with Valentine’s Day is the story of Saint Valentine sending the very first Valentine’s card. Everyone loves a good love story, but the history of Valentine's Day is a bit different from the romanticized version of the holiday recognized today. While February 14 is widely celebrated with sweet Valentine's Day treats , heartfelt Valentine's Day gifts , and romantic dinners , few people are familiar with the holiday's true origins. The Valentine’s Day tradition of giving a box of candy was started in the 19th century by Richard Cadbury, a scion of a British chocolate manufacturing family. The commercialisation of Valentine’s Day. In the mid-19th century the Valentine’s card travelled across the Atlantic. Cards rapidly gained popularity in America, where they were initially advertised as a British fashion. Advanced American technologies meant that more elaborate cards were produced cheaply, encouraging their popularity yet The History of Valentine's Day, and Why We Celebrate Valentine’s Day may be associated with romance, but the history of the holiday isn’t exactly lovey-dovey. Here are the facts you may not know—plus, fun ideas for Valentine's Day . Whether you love Valentine's Day or hate it, one thing is clear: The holiday goes way back. We might typically associate Valentine's Day with romance, roses and chocolate, but the holiday's history has a lot more to it than meets the eye. From a Roman festival and Christian martyrs to a medieval celebration of spring , we explore the origins of Valentine's Day in more detail Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day today? Valentine's Day's transformation into a holiday about romantic love can be attributed to the Romantic English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. The Times notes that Jack B. Oruch, a late University of Kansas English professor, credits Chaucer for modern ideas about Valentine's Day. Through his research, Oruch History of St.Valentine Day. Valentine’s day week is a widely recognized festival of romance. However, it has a very grave history that accompanies it. The valentine’s day significance lies in a few legends of Middle Age Rome. Though these legends vary slightly from each other, they all mention one central character on whom they are based. Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th and is a traditional day for lovers in many countries. There are two main stories about the origins and history of Valentine's Day. The first involves an old Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia. Here's a look back at the history of Valentine's Day: When is Valentine's Day 2025? Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. What day Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history. New strain in Calif. Get the USA TODAY app Start the day smarter ☀️ 🐍Year of the Snake Other theories about the history of Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s cards Initially, however, the festival was celebrated as a Christian feast day. A few stories follow the Valentine's Day tradition, including one in which Saint Valentine was jailed for having Christian beliefs, and he restored vision to the jailer's daughter while imprisoned. Valentine's Day has quite the history. Learn about why we celebrate Valentine's Day, the meaning of the holiday, when Valentine's Day is this year, why Valentine's Day is on February 14, and more.
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