The history of Valentine ’s Day
Posted By Casanova on February 8, 2010
Valentine’s day originated as a pagan celebration in third century Rome. The God Lupercus, protector of the shepherds and their flocks was celebrated every February at a feast called Lupercalia. During Lupercalia, in honor of the goddess Juno Februata, names of young women were put into a box and drawn to match boys who would be their partners for the year.
As Christianity became prevalent, priests took over old heathen practices. Lupercalia, was renamed St. Valentine’s Day. Saint’s names were placed into an urn and young people were supposed to emulate the life of the saint they had drawn. By the fourteenth century they reverted back to girl’s names.
Several men named Valentine were honored with feasts on February 14th.
One of them was a revered priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius was having no luck recruiting men for his wars who preferred staying with their wives and sweethearts rather than fight in foreign lands. Claudius, angry, declared that no more marriages could be performed and cancelled all engagements. Valentine secretly married several couples but when Claudius found out, he threw Valentine in prison where he died.
Another version had St. Valentine jailed for helping Christians. While in prison he cured a jailer’s daughter of blindness. Claudius became enraged and had Valentine clubbed and beheaded on February 14, 269 A.D. Yet another story claims that Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and wrote her letters that were signed “From your Valentine.”
All Valentines eventually evolved into one. In 496 Pope Gelasius declared the day in honor of St. Valentine. Through the centuries the Christian holiday became a time to exchange love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.
A young Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans, was one of the earliest creators of valentines, called “poetical or amorous addresses.” From his confinement in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, he sent several love poems or “valentines” to his wife in France.
Europeans also believed that on February 14th the birds began to choose their mates. Doves and pigeons mate for life and therefore were used as a symbol of “fidelity.”
The first commercial valentines appeared around 1800 and were rather simplistic. By the 1830’s and 1840’s Valentines contained delicate and artistic messages. Valentines made of fine papers and decorated with satin, ribbon, or lace pictures of turtledoves, lovers’ knots in gold or silver, bow and arrows, cupids, and bleeding hearts commanded high prices.
In the USA, Valentine’s Day is a major commercial day, second only to Christmas in the number of greeting cards sent, to everyone from neighbors to pets
In Europe, it remains more of a romantic occasion. Valentine’s Day in Paris with someone you love, is the place to be. Lovers flock here on February 14th: What could beat a romantic dinner cruise on the Seine river, or a dinner in a cabaret in the most romantic place in the world looking in your lover’s eyes?
Comments
Leave a Reply
Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there will be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. There is no need to re-submit your comment.