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Find out about the meaning and history of Valentine’s Day, from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England. Saint Valentine, The origin of Valentine’s Day is a rich tapestry of history, mythology, and cultural evolution. From the legend of Saint Valentine and the ancient festival of Lupercalia to the influence of Geoffrey Chaucer and the rise of commercialized celebrations, February 14th has become a day dedicated to love and affection. 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 many regions of the world. [3][4] Valentine’s Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. Given their similarities, it has been suggested that the holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. As you probably know, the day is named after St. Valentine—but our story starts long before he came along. According to both The New York Times and History.com, the holiday's origin might stem from the ancient pagan festival of Lupercalia, which predated Christianity. Explore the rich history of Valentine's Day, from ancient Roman Lupercalia to today's global celebration of love, affection, and enduring connections. What is the origin of Valentine’s Day? The exact origin of Valentine’s Day is somewhat unclear, but it is believed to have evolved from both Roman and Christian traditions. It may have been named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived during the Roman Empire. 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 Valentine's Day always falls on February 14, meaning that the day of the week varies year on year. In 2025, Valentine's Day will fall on a Friday for the first time since 2020. Where did it come The earliest known Valentine’s Day card was sent in 1477 by Margery Brews, an Englishwoman from Norfolk, to her cousin John Paston, in which she affectionately addressed him as “my right well beloved Valentine.” 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. The Mysterious History of the Real Saint Behind Valentine’s Day. 4 minute read. By Olivia B. Waxman. (Valentine’s Day in 2018, for example, fell on the same day as Ash Wednesday.) Discover the essence of Valentine's Day: delve into its true meaning, explore its rich history and origins. By: History.com Editors Updated: February 14, 2024 | Original: October 27, 2009 By the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official "Valentine's Day cards." The rest, as they say, is history. Universal Images Group / Getty Images The first written connection between love and Valentine’s Day appears in his poem, Parlement of Foules, written in the late 14th century. Chaucer appears to have invented the correlation that Valentine’s Day equals love and chalked it up to poetic license. The history of Valentine’s Day is a bit blurry, but it’s also possible that he The Catholic Church doesn’t recognize St. Valentine’s Day on its calendar anymore, but people throughout the world still celebrate the day. CHANGING TRADITIONS. Valentine’s Day traditions have evolved a lot over the years. For example, in the Middle Ages—which lasted from the 5th to 15th centuries in Europe—people started exchanging St. Valentine, a name that is synonymous with love and romance across the globe, lived at a time when the Roman Empire was at its zenith. He is often best remembered for the act of marrying couples in secret defiance of the Roman Emperor's bans. However, the truth about St. Valentine is far more complex, woven from a mixture of historical fragments, religious tradition, and folklore. This has Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of this festival of candy and cupids are actually dark, bloody — and a bit muddled. The history of Valentine’s Day actually finds its roots in ancient Rome and Victorian England, and it’s not as rosy as you might want to believe. St. Valentine actually refers to several people. The earliest possible origin story of Valentine’s Day is the pagan holiday Lupercalia. Occurring for centuries in the middle of February, the holiday celebrates fertility.
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