Have you ever wondered, while you were in the store buying chocolates for a special occasion in February, why we celebrate this day in the first place? We all know Valentine’s Day is the day of romance, but why?
Who originated the holiday?
The origin for the holiday isn’t exactly set in stone, as there are a variety of different meanings behind how the celebration came into existence. One legend comes from the Catholic Church, with a priest named Valentine who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Charles II declared marriage an outlaw due to believing that single men were a better fit to be soldiers, Valentine defied this ruling and continued to marry couples in secret. However, he had been beheaded for his actions of going against the Emperor.
Another point that people have made is that St. Valentine of Interamna, a bishop, is the reason for the holiday, as he was also beheaded during Charles II’s reign due to the refusal to renounce his faith and convert new followers. Others claim that Valentine might have been killed for attempting to aid Christians’ escape from harsh Roman prisons.
One legend suggests that Valentine was imprisoned, and during his time in jail, he sent out a “valentine” greeting after he fell in love with a young girl. It is noted that before his death, he wrote a letter to the girl he loved, signing it “From your Valentine,” the expression that is still used today.
Despite there not being a hard truth behind Valentine’s actions, the stories all depict him as a heroic and romantic figure. Essentially, he set the standards of love that has evolved into people thinking what flowers they should select from the number of choices every February.
“From your Valentine,” is a term unforgotten and still signed on countless Valentine’s Day cards today.
Why February?
Many believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial around A.D. 270. Others have claimed it to be an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia.
Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, along with the Roman founders, Romulus and Remus, and typically was celebrated around February 15. The festival consisted of members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, gathering at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus were thought to have been cared for by a she-wolf, or lupa.
Afterwards, a priest (Trigger Warning: animal cruelty) would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. The goat would then be skinned and turned into strips, which would be dipped in the sacrificial blood. The strips would be gently slapped onto women who believed it would make them more fertile in the new year. Later in the day, the young women of the city would place their names in a big urn, and the bachelors each chose a name and became paired for the year with his chosen woman. Typically, these pairings ended in marriage. It can be certainly said that romance has been toned down quite a bit over the millennia. Instead of sacrificing goats to secure marriage, nowadays, people just head over to the nearest pharmacy for a card that is most likely already pre-written.
Traditions Over the Years
The romantic holiday began to gain popularity around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th century, it became common for friends and couples of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the start of the 20th century, printed cards began to replace written letters with the improvements of printing technology. Cards that were ready-made were an easy way for people to express their emotions during a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged.
Today, according to Hallmark, more than 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year.
Now the next time you’re purchasing chocolates for Valentine’s Day, you’ll understand the reason for why we celebrate this day.
Source – Valentine’s Day 2026: Origins, History & Holiday Traditions
