Valentine’s Day. The air is filled with the scent of fragrant bouquets and sugary confections in heart-shaped boxes. Lovers stroll hand in hand, while children exchange colorful cards and candy. Homes are adorned with red and pink decorations, and love songs play softly during candlelit dinners. Despite the chilly season, the festivities keep everyone’s hearts warm. Do you know how this romantic holiday first came to be? Before you open your Valentine, unpack the history of this day of love.
The origin of the name “Valentine” remains shrouded in mystery. Catholic legends associate it with multiple different martyr saints, all highlighting his empathetic and romantic nature. While some stories link it to the bishop Saint Valentine of Terni, others suggest it came from a Roman priest in the 3rd century. He was ordered to death after continuing to perform marriage ceremonies for young couples after they were outlawed by Emperor Claudius II. Other stories suggest he was incarcerated for helping Christians escape brutal Roman prisons. Shortly before his execution, he wrote his lover, possibly the jailer’s daughter, a letter signed “From your Valentine”.
While some attribute the celebration of Valentine’s Day in mid-February to be a way of commemorating Saint Valentine’s death, others believe its date was part of the Christian church’s efforts to christianize the pagan fertility festival Lupercalia. This celebration was observed on February 15 to honor Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as Roman founders Romulus and Remus. The festival began with Roman priests, members of the Luperci, gathering in a sacred cave to sacrifice a goat for fertility, and a dog for purification. They would then bless women and crop fields with strips of goat hide dipped in blood, believing it to improve their fertility/growth. Later, it is said that the city’s bachelors would draw young women’s names from an urn to pair up with for the year. Lupercalia was outlawed during the late 5th century, when Pope Gelasius established Valentine’s Day on February 14th. However, the date wasn’t officially linked to love until much later, with Valentine’s greetings becoming common in the Middle Ages, and the oldest known written Valentine being a 1415 poem by Duke Charles of Orleans, to his wife.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, people celebrate in various ways, embracing both romantic and platonic love. A teacher here at Tahoma shares, “We’re leaving the kids with a babysitter, and my husband is taking me out to dinner. I’m excited!” One Tahoma student says, “I’m going to have a Galentine’s Day sleepover with my friends. They’re coming over and we’re going to make pizza and have a movie night.” It’s a great reminder that Valentine’s Day is a time for everyone to express love and appreciation for those who matter most. From heartfelt dinners to fun gatherings, this special day encourages everyone to express their affection and create lasting memories.
