Valentine's Day history
Valentine's Day history
Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day, is a holiday celebrated on February 14th each year. While its origins are unclear, the holiday has been associated with love and romance since the Middle Ages.
The earliest known association of Valentine's Day with love and romance comes from the 14th century, when the poet Chaucer wrote a poem about Valentine's Day as a day for lovers. By the 15th century, Valentine's Day had become popular across Europe and was celebrated with cards and gifts.
One theory about the origin of Valentine's Day is that it was originally a pagan festival in ancient Rome known as Lupercalia. This festival was celebrated on February 15th and was associated with fertility and purification. During the festival, men would draw names of women from a box and then spend the day with them. This tradition was later Christianized and associated with Saint Valentine.
There are several Christian saints named Valentine, but the most famous is Saint Valentine of Rome, who was martyred in the 3rd century. According to legend, he was a Christian priest who secretly performed weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. He was also said to have cured the daughter of his jailer of blindness before his execution.
The association of Saint Valentine with love and romance is believed to have begun in the 14th century. One legend suggests that while Saint Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with his jailer's daughter and sent her a letter signed "From your Valentine." This phrase is still used in cards and messages today.
Valentine's Day as we know it today has its roots in the 19th century, when the practice of sending Valentine's Day cards became popular in the United States. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world and is a popular occasion for couples to exchange cards, gifts, and expressions of love.
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