The History Of February 14th’s Valentine's Day And Its Significance

Valentine's Day is a nationally and internationally recognized holiday that occurs on February 14th in the US. It is often considered a special occasion for couples, those in love, and singles looking for romantic love. Valentine’s Day celebrations might include giving gifts, going on lavish dates, or expressing affection for those in their lives. However, Valentine's Day also has a unique history that goes back many years.  

The history of the Valentine's Day tradition

Valentine's Day, which may also be referred to as Saint Valentine's Day, is celebrated annually on February 14th in the US. Initially, it was not a celebration of romance and true love and had a bit of a clouded past. Below are some of the historical facts about Valentine’s Day, celebrated in western culture as a public holiday.  

The beginning: Saint Valentine and other histories of the Middle Ages  

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, many historians believe Valentine's Day was inspired by the Roman festival of Lupercalia in the Middle Ages, a day dedicated to fertility in Victorian England. 

Lupercalia involved Pagan rituals held on February 15th each year and was organized by priests called Luperci. This date was chosen as it was believed to be the beginning of the birds’ mating season. At the Pagan celebration, goats and a dog would be sacrificed, and the priests would dip bloody rags in milk while laughing. They would then cut the skins from the animals and use them on women to increase "fertility." As a fertility festival, it was not focused on love or relationships and was dedicated instead to the Roman God of fertility in their belief. It may have been associated with Valentine's Day due to the date it occurred and speculation that fertility and romance are potentially related in this context. 

Confusing origins

Other scholars believed that a pope named Pope Gelasius in the time of the emperor Claudius II was responsible for the beginning of the holiday. However, the University of Chicago states there was no mention of Valentine's Day or a similar holiday in his address when he mandated the ending of Lupercalia.  

It is still unsure which day Valentine's Day was first celebrated and why it became a holiday. Although many people refer to Saint Valentine, there were two saints named "Valentine" in history, if not more, and it is unclear which one the holiday was named after. Individuals speculate that the most probable would be a Roman priest from the Catholic church or the bishop of Terni. There was also an apostle named St. Valentinus, who was the first bishop of Passau. 

Other theories about the history of Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s cards

Initially, however, the festival was celebrated as a Christian feast day. A few stories follow the Valentine's Day tradition, including one in which Saint Valentine was jailed for having Christian beliefs, and he restored vision to the jailer's daughter while imprisoned. Some people also believe he helped young men and soldiers get married in the third century. 

In the story about restoring vision to the young woman, people believe the tradition of writing love letters and sending cards on Valentine's Day also stems from a final letter signed by Saint Valentine. He’d written to the woman, signing it, "your Valentine." After Valentine refused to renounce his faith, he was executed under the rule of Roman Emperor Claudius II, and his skull is now in a museum in Rome. 

Others believe that the earliest valentine was written in 1415 by the Duke of Orleans in a letter to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture in battle.

Historical celebrations and the Young Man’s Valentine Writer publication 

The origins of the first Valentine's Feast Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, occurred on February 14th in the early 8th century, according to a historical text. It celebrated Valentine, who was executed in Rome as the patron saint of lovers, epilepsy, and beekeeping. In part, the spring festival celebrated the coming of spring and the budding flowers. It wasn't until the latter half of the 18th century that these symbols were associated with love and relationships, perhaps due to the association of "budding love" and hope with the symbolism of flowers and early spring. 

In England, townspeople celebrated the day by giving gifts, writing cards called valentines, eating chocolate, and expressing love to one another. The first mass-produced valentines were done by a woman named Esther Allen Howland, who created a business called Howland that gave out affectionate cards with imagery of cupids, arrows, and doves. Her business was increasingly popular, and she sold it in the 1800s. Others believe she was inspired by a man who wrote "The Young Man's Valentine Writer," a publication dedicated to sentimental verses for young men to use on Valentine's Day. 

William Shakespeare also wrote about Valentine's Day and love often in his works, inspiring modern ideas about love. For example, these lines from Hamlet are often quoted, "Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine."

The first mass-produced valentine cards

Valentine's Day cards were also an inspiration to the greeting card association of Hallmark, which began by selling only Valentine's Day cards in 1910 as the first mass-produced Valentine in more modern history. Interestingly, Hallmark didn’t start making Christmas cards until five years later, in 1915. Regular greeting cards didn't come until later when Valentine lost popularity. 

Modern-day Valentine’s Day 

Although much of Valentine's Day’s celebrated history as a public holiday relates to Christianity, even people who aren't Christians celebrate the holiday by showing love to each other, purchasing gifts, and writing letters. Now often known as a day of consumerism, many popular chain stores put out Valentine's decorations and merchandise in January and February to commercialize the holiday's popularity. For example, many stores sell Valentine's card options with hearts and real lace on them, red roses, and candy in fancy boxes. Couples might make reservations at a restaurant in advance and plan lavish celebrations. Single individuals might go to a blind dating or singles event or spend time at home. 

In schools in the US, children might use the day as a celebration of friendship by bringing candy to class, decorating a Valentine's Day box, and writing valentines and poems to their classmates and friends. They may partake in crafts or express a crush on a classmate. Exchanging cards is common among kids, but some adults do it as well, such as with co-workers and friends. Some people also give candy or small gifts to select family members or the whole family. People may also have weddings on Valentine’s Day to celebrate the loving energy and origins of the event. 

February 14th celebration in other countries

Some other countries, like England, Australia, and Canada, celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th of February. Different parts of the world may celebrate the romantic holiday differently and with differing histories. For example, in Brazil, Valentine's Day is not celebrated on February 14th due to it being during Carnaval. Instead, Brazil has two "day of lovers" celebrations, one on June 12th and the other on the 1st of December. 

In Mexico and some parts of Latin America, they celebrate the Day of Love and Friendship or El Día del Amor y la Amistad. In South Korea, women give men gifts like chocolate or cards on Valentine's Day. Then, men give women gifts on "White Day," which is one month later on March 14th. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, people celebrate Valentine's day in July on July 6th in honor of Saint Valentine from the Roman church or July 30th in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine. 

Why is Valentine's Day significant? 

Valentine's Day is significant to many because it offers couples the chance to come together and show their love to each other. People may have busy lives, children to care for, and careers to focus on. Having an international holiday dedicated to couples can allow people to take a break from the hustle of life and focus on those they love most. The origins of this day and early celebrations may not relate to its current celebrations but Valentine’s Day continues to evolve and grow in popularity. 

With many stores, restaurants, and companies within the US taking advantage of the holiday, there are many red, white, and pink decorations, chocolate, stuffed animals, and expressions of love that people can use to show their loved ones they care or have fallen in love. 

Ways to celebrate Valentine's Day this February

This year, you can try a few unique ideas with your partner or on your own to celebrate the meaning of Valentine's Day and love. 

Make a date night jar

If you have a partner, consider making a date jar together on Valentine's Day. To come up with a fun way to spend an evening or day together If you want the activity to be more romantic, light candles, pick up Valentine's snacks, and turn on some of your favorite songs. To make a date jar, do the following: 

1. Get a medium-to-large glass jar. 
2. Decorate the jar as you wish. You might add photos, paint, or stickers on the outside. 
3. Get a few sheets of paper and cut 100 or more small pieces, about the length and width of your thumb. 
4. On each paper, add a date idea. Make sure to include free, moderately priced, and expensive dates. You can mark each category with a different color on the back of the paper if you want to keep it organized. 
5. Fold the papers and add them to the jar. 
6. When you're finished, each of you can pull a date idea. Then decide between you which to do. You could also do both. 

You can also use the date jar after Valentine's Day, making it a potentially useful craft. 

Write a goal list

If you and your partner have a love language of words of affirmation or enjoy writing loving notes to each other, consider sitting down together to write a list of goals for your relationship. Discuss areas where you might want to make changes and areas that you've enjoyed. 

After the activity, write each other a list of ten aspects you love most about each other and how those aspects inspire you each year. You could also make it a tradition each Valentine's Day and read past lists each year to see how far you've come as a couple. 

Meet someone new

You might use Valentine's Day to meet someone new if you're single. Many larger cities have "singles events" on Valentine's Day, allowing people to dress up in red, white, or pink and meet other singles. Do an online search to see what's available near you. 

Have a self-date 

You may not have to be married or in a relationship to go on a lavish Valentine's Day date. Weddings, love, and intense declarations are not the only way to celebrate this holiday. If you're sad about not having a partner to go out with, consider taking yourself out. Buy a new outfit, get yourself a box of chocolates, and make a reservation at your favorite restaurant. 

When it comes time for the date, put on your fancy clothes and makeup if you wear it, and go to the reservation. Although eating alone on Valentine's Day may feel scary, it can also be a practice in self-love and self-compassion. If there's another type of date you would do with a partner, consider doing that activity with yourself, and don’t forget about giving flowers to yourself. For example, you could try any of the following self-date activities: 

• A picnic on the beach
• A walk on the beach 
• Traveling to a unique destination and renting a fancy hotel or vacation rental 
• Going to a romantic café for breakfast and coffee and trying to write a love poem
• Going ice skating 
• Going to a dine-in movie theater 

See a couples counselor

Valentine's Day can be a day to celebrate love and affection. However, not every couple may feel close on this day. If you're struggling in your relationship, a gift you could give yourself and your partner this year could be couples therapy. Although many people may feel shameful about visiting a therapist, couples therapy can benefit any couple who wants to learn professional skills for their relationship. 

Benefits of online therapy

If you're worried about cost, availability, or schedule, you can also try online couples therapy, where you can meet with your therapist every week from the comfort of home. Recent studies show that internet-based treatment modalities are more effective than in-person therapy for couples. In addition, you can choose between phone, video, and live chat sessions, and you may find it more cost-effective in the long run. 

Couples aren't the only ones that can take advantage of therapy. Individual therapy may also be available through platforms like BetterHelp. For couples, platforms like Regain offer thousands of couples and marriage therapists.