This blog doesn't say that Chaucer and Shakespeare originated Valentine's day. It says that the date became associated with lovers thanks to Chaucer. "It wasn’t until Geoffrey Chaucer, writer of the Canterbury Tales, penned “The Parliament of Fowls” in the 14th century that Valentine’s Day became the day of lovers." Written valentines began appearing in 1400, and Shakespeare referenced Valentine's Day three times in his plays in the early 1600s. In the 1800s, Esther Howland began mass-producing Valentine's I think it’s a difficult issue. ‘Valentine’s Day’, as in a late winter festival of mid-February, almost certainly shares something with earlier pagan festivals (like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween), but when we think of the modern Valentine’s Day we think exclusively of love and romance, and that’s where Chaucer and the poets come in, it would seem, in the late Middle Ages and Whether or not Chaucer can be fully credited, it is true that he and fellow writer Shakespeare popularized the amorous associations surrounding the day. Soon, people began penning and exchanging love letters to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and by the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more Shakespeare’s contributions to Valentine’s Day. Shakespeare mentions Saint Valentine’s Day twice in his works. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (a play that is set in Ancient Greece and has connections to Lupercal), he builds on Chaucer’s claim that Valentine’s Day is the day that birds couple for the night. Valentine’s Day has a well-deserved reputation for being excessively commercial; in 2016, the National Retail Federation estimated that people in the U.S. would spend $19.7 billion on the 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 The exact history of Valentine's Day is a bit murky, but some historians believe the holiday is linked to Lupercalia, a pagan festival that was held annually between Feb. 13 and Feb. 15 in ancient And what date should they gather on, but Saint Valentine’s Day: For this was on seynt Valentynes day, Whan every foul cometh there to chese his make’ (309-10) For this was on Saint Valentine Some people think that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate Valentine’s death around 270 A.D. Others think the Christian church decided to celebrate Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an attempt to “Christianize” the pagan Lupercalia, known as the beginning of spring festival. Why do we celebrate Saint Valentine's Day? This holiday began with ancient Roman and early Christian traditions. Originally a day to honor St. Valentine, who defied a marriage ban, it’s now a celebration of love. Explore the historical changes that shaped Valentine’s Day as we know it. These Chocolate Covered Strawberries are a classic Valentine's Day Dessert! Why is Valentine's Day Written valentines began appearing in 1400, and Shakespeare referenced Valentine's Day three times in his plays in the early 1600s. In the 1800s, Esther Howland began mass-producing Valentine's Soon, people began penning and exchanging love letters to celebrate Valentine's Day. The mid-19th century marked the beginning of many of the commercialized Valentine's Day traditions we know today. Victorian men wooed women with flowers, Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates, and the New England Confectionery Company The first mention of St. Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday appeared in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer in 1382. and it is here that we see some of the familiar iconographies begin to Why some people think Shakespeare didn’t write Shakespeare, explained. by Constance Grady. Apr 22, 2016, 2:00 PM UTC Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling Written valentines began appearing in 1400, and Shakespeare referenced Valentine's Day three times in his plays in the early 1600s. In the 1800s, Esther Howland began mass-producing Valentine's Written valentines began appearing in 1400, and Shakespeare referenced Valentine's Day three times in his plays in the early 1600s. In the 1800s, Esther Howland began mass-producing Valentine's During the 17th century, Shakespeare popularized Valentine’s Day when he wrote it into his play Hamlet. In the play, Ophelia laments about being Hamlet’s lover and valentine. Shakespeare’s play emphasized the idea that February 14 was a day for romantic love and not just friendship, just as Chaucer had put forward. The original French text and translation of Charles of Orleans’ poem Farewell to Love. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Authors like Chaucer and Shakespeare popularized Valentine’s Day with their Why It Works: Conveys the idea of soul-level connection. “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep” – Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet) Why It Works: Timeless expression of infinite love. Seasonal Variations. Summer Romance: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” – Shakespeare
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