Valentine's Day, a time for people to express their feelings of love, affection and friendship. Many mark this amorous day by exchanging cards and Valentine's Day Gifts. Some make romantic dinner plans. But what are the true origins of Valentine's Day? What is the history behind one of the most charming dates in our calendar? The truth is no one really knows! The history is a bit murky and a little gruesome in some accounts. Its backstory is a heady mix of strange traditions, pagan rituals, and grisly executions.
Saint Valentine
Popular belief is that Pope Gelasius I established Valentine's Day, or the Feast Of Saint Valentine, in AD496. The date to be celebrated, 14th February, in honour of the Christian Martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome. Saint Valentine, a clergyman in the Roman Empire, ministered to persecuted Christians. Emperor Claudius II executed him. It is reported he was buried on February 14th AD269. However, there are numerous martyrdom stories associated with this date in history, so it could be related to one of these instead.
Lupercalia
Others believe the origins of Valentine's Day stem from an older Roman festival called Lupercalia. Lupercalia took place at the same time of year, the middle of February. The festival marked the official start of Spring in the Roman calendar. It is thought that the event took place to honour the she-wolf that nurtured Romulus and Remus, whom they named Lupercal, and to please the Roman fertility God, Lupercus. Lupercalia involved ritual sacrifice of one or more male goats, a representation of sexuality, and a dog. Reports about this debauched event include a Pagan fertility right, in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. The pair would then 'couple' for the duration of the festival, or for longer, if the match was right. Another ritual involved slapping women with goat skin thongs to enhance their fertility.
Valentine's Day as we Know it
It was Geoffrey Chaucer, in the 14th Century, who first introduced the tradition of courtly love on this date. Later, in the 18th Century, the Feast of Saint Valentine grew into more of an occasion. Couples began to express their love for one another by sending 'valentines' and exchanging Valentine's Day gifts like flowers or confectionary. Certain symbols like cupid, hearts and doves also became synonymous with Valentine's Day. These traditions have remained popular right up to the present day, although how we celebrate and how much we spend to celebrate, is significantly different! Indeed, with an average spend per person of £23 (in 2022), Valentine's Day in the UK alone can generate up to £926m for the economy. This includes romantic meals, Valentines getaways, card and gift giving.
So what will you do this year? Treat your loved one to a special Valentine's Day gift from Sweet and Nostalgic? Exchange cards filled with endearing expressions of love? Maybe you'll indulge in a fine meal for two? However you chose to mark the occasion, remember the origins of Valentine's Day and how things are not always what they seem to be!