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. But the origins of this festival of candy and cupids are actually dark, bloody — and a bit muddled. Though no one has pinpointed the exact origin of the holiday, one place to start is ancient St. Valentine (died 3rd century, Rome; feast day February 14) was the name of one or two legendary Christian martyrs whose lives seem to have a historical basis. Although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognize St. Valentine as a saint of the church, he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the lack of reliable For Saint Valentine of Rome, along with Saint Valentine of Terni, "abstracts of the acts of the two saints were in nearly every church and monastery of Europe", according to Professor Jack B. Oruch of the University of Kansas. [10] Saint Valentine is commemorated in the Anglican Communion [11] and the Lutheran Churches on February 14. [12] 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 peak. He is often best remembered for the act of marrying couples in secret defiance of the Roman Emperor's bans. As far as we can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine’s Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century (Valentine of Rome or Valentine of Terni). One of these two was martyred on February 14th 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day. 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 There was a mid-February fertility festival in ancient Rome called Lupercalia, which some believe was a forerunner to Valentine's Day. Dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunas, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus, this feast of debauchery involved a ritual where an order of Roman priests ran naked through the streets, placing the The first Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who reportedly was martyred on the Flaminian Way during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. The other Saint Valentine was a third-century bishop of Terni who was martyred in Rome but whose relics were sent back to his home see. During the Middle Ages, the cult of Saint Valentine spread beyond Italy, to Central and Northern Europe, where many of the traditions associated with the modern Saint Valentine’s Day originated. Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome on February 15. Although Valentine’s Day shares its name with a martyred Christian saint, some historians believe the holiday is The History of Valentine’s Day in Italy. The Italian origins of Valentine’s Day date back to ancient Roman festivals like Lupercalia, a pagan celebration held in mid-February to purify the city and promote fertility. While the Valentine’s Day origin lie in ancient Rome and early Christianity, the transformation of the day into a celebration of romantic love didn’t occur until the Middle Ages. During this time, the concept of courtly love—a chivalric ideal in which knights expressed admiration for noblewomen—took hold across Europe. 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. But, since his contemporaries were more familiar with the Feb. 14 Saint Valentine’s Day, that was the date that became attached to the new holiday of romance. In some ways, that may be a good thing. 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 Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine of Rome, a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II's marriage ban and was executed on February 14th, around 269 AD. Saint Valentine In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I established February 14th as St. Valentine's Day to honor Saint Valentine and Christianize the pagan Lupercalia festival. The origins of Valentine’s Day trace back to the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia. Held on February 15, Lupercalia honored the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. In addition to a bountiful feast, Lupercalia festivities are purported to have included the pairing of Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. The day originated as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Saint Valentine (Italian: San Valentino , Latin: Valentinus ). 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
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