Every year on Valentine’s Day, couples express their affection toward each other by exchanging cards, boxes of chocolate, and other gifts. There’s a running joke that the holiday was created by greeting-card or candy companies, due to the gift-giving holiday's materialistic connotations. But, as it turns out, that's not the case.
Why is Valentine's Day celebrated, really? The real reason is rooted in Christian and Roman traditions — and the mysterious Saint Valentine is at its center.
Who Was Saint Valentine?
The Catholic church recognizes multiple Saint Valentines, and it’s inconclusive which one the holiday nods to.
However, there are a few theories: The first is that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in honor of a priest in third-century Rome. Legend has it that this Saint Valentine challenged Emperor Claudius II's decree that men make better soldiers when single. He married lovers in secret and was killed for treason upon discovery of this act.
Others believe Valentine’s Day is the namesake holiday of Saint Valentine of Terni. This Saint Valentine was a bishop in third-century Rome and is known for having married two lovers of differing religions against their parents' wishes. Anglo-Saxtons believe Saint Valentine of Terni shared flowers from his garden with visitors — when two of them fell in love, he officiated their wedding. This couple became the prime example of what it means to be blissfully in love, inspiring the saint to dedicate one day a year to a general wedding blessing.
Another belief is that Valentine’s Day was inspired by a man who was imprisoned and fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. This man was said to have written the very first “valentine,” as he allegedly wrote his lover a letter, signing it “from your Valentine.”
The first Valentine’s Day celebrations
Some believe Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 because that is when Saint Valentine was killed or buried. Others claim the date has to do with the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia, which was a days-long celebration that would start on February 13 and end on February 15.
While Valentine’s Day in modern times is associated with paper hearts and candlelit dinners, Lupercalia was less idyllic. The festival was meant to encourage a woman’s fertility and pay homage to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as Romulus and Remus, the Roman founders. It began with the sacrifice of a goat (representing fertility) and a dog (representing purification).
To start, priests would kill the animals and cut the goat’s hide into strips. They were then dipped in the sacrificial blood, and women would willingly line up to be whipped with the bloodied shreds, in hopes that this rite would make them fertile in the coming year. Later, the women’s names would be put into a jar for men to pick from, and this coupling would last the duration of the festival, if not longer, depending on the match.
Eventually (and fortunately), the holiday evolved. First, Pope Gelasius I combined Valentine’s Day with Lupercalia to end its association with Paganism. This was around the same time the Normans (who were Viking settlers in France) started celebrating Galatin’s Day, which was similar to Valentine’s Day.
We have Chaucer and Shakespeare to thank for the holiday’s turn for the sweeter. The writers romanticized the day in their works, which became popular across Europe. Paper cards became a popular new way to express affection in the mid-century — until Hallmark came to fruition in the early 1900s.
Valentine’s Day Traditions Across the World
Czech Republic
Czechs make Valentine’s Day in the U.S. look only somewhat romantic. Though they celebrate on May 1 instead of February 14, those partaking in the festivities pay a visit to the statue of poet Karel Hynek Macha. The statue is located next to a picturesque cherry tree grove where couples share a kiss under the blooms.
Germany
German couples ditch hearts in favor of pig-shaped gifts on Valentine’s Day. Flowers, chocolates, and ginger cookies are also exchanged, but pigs also reign, as they represent love and lust.
Mexico
In Mexico, Valentine’s Day celebrates all kinds of love: romantic, platonic, and familial. There, February 14 isn’t called Valentine’s Day, but rather "El Día del Amor y Amistad," which translates to the "Day of Love and Friendship."
Philippines
Looking to get hitched? On Valentine’s Day in the Philippines, the government hosts one big marriage ceremony, so couples can be wed en masse.
South Africa
Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve. In South Africa, women write the name of the person they love on a piece of paper and pin it to their sleeve, so there’s no guessing where their affection lies.
Argentina
In Argentina, Valentine’s Day isn’t celebrated in February, nor is it a single day of celebration. Argentinian couples celebrate "Semana de la Dulzura" or “the week of sweetness” from July 1-7, spoiling loved ones with sweet treats and a lot of kisses.
Julia Guerra
Contributing Writer
Julia Guerra is a New Jersey-based freelance writer with bylines across digital media sites such as InStyle, WWD, INSIDER Reviews, MindBodyGreen, and more. With over 7 years of writing across lifestyle verticals, she is forever testing and researching all things related to makeup and skincare, fashion, athleisure, women's health and wellness, as well as the best home gym equipment. When she's not writing articles, Julia can be found with her head in a book, obsessing over skincare, practicing yoga, taking pictures of her adorable cat, or spending time with her husband and loved ones.
