By: Erin Watts

What is Valentine’s Day? Ask anyone and they’ll tell you it is a day of pink and red hearts, giving gifts to loved ones and sharing the night with that special someone. Is that the correct description? Let’s find out!

❤ Origin ❤

The origins of the celebration are Roman, but not very romantic. It came from a pagan festival, Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival where the Luperci, an order of priests, sacrificed a goat and a dog, then used the hide to hit women and crop fields, hoping to bring fertility to the women. There was also a “matchmaking lottery” where young men would pick women’s names and be coupled for the remainder of the festival. Many of the couples ended up getting married! Things got muddy in the fifth century when Pope Gelasius I combined Valentine’s Day and Lupercalia together and christianized it. The day was not originally associated with love but as time went on, more and more people made it sweeter and romantic.  

❤ Legend of Saint Valentine ❤

The actual Saint for Valentine’s day is all a mystery. The Catholic church recognizes three different saints with the name Valentine or Valentinus. All these saints were martyred. One legend says Saint Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome who would marry young lovers in secret after young men marrying became illegal. Then, supposedly, the emperor found out and put him to death. Another possible saint is Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop who was beheaded by the same emperor. Other stories believe Valentine helped Christians escape from horrible Roman guards. Possibly, when Valentine was imprisoned, he sent the first “valentine” to a girl he fell in love with.

❤ Cupid ❤

Everyone knows Cupid as the little baby who shoots people with love arrows, but who is he actually? Cupid is the Roman version of Eros, the Greek god of Love. He uses his golden arrows to incite love! He was not always seen as mischievous! 

❤ Valentine’s Day Today ❤

The United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the United Kingdom celebrate Valentine’s Day. It started getting popular in the 1600s. By the 1700s, it was normal for people of all statuses to celebrate by sharing handwritten notes and small tokens. Today, people buy flowers and break the bank for loved ones. According to Hallmark, 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are purchased yearly! 

I hope everyone has an amazing Valentine’s Day! Spend this time with friends, family, loved ones– and that special person in your life. Share lots of love on this beautiful day!

If you want to learn more, check out https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2 and https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day