The Truth About Valentine's Day: Lupercalia, Saint Valentine, And Beyond
Nowadays, February 14 is associated with heart-shaped food, red and pink decorations, candy, chocolate, roses, and anything else considered romantic. While many people believe this holiday holds sentimental value and even attach certain meanings to it, majority of people do not know why they celebrate this holiday each year. While its history may be surprising, it’s certainly interesting and worth knowing about it.
The truth about Valentine’s Day: A history of the holiday
First, it’s important to note that the history of Valentine’s Day will probably always be somewhat of a mystery. There are plenty of tales and different accounts of how this holiday came to be, many of which will be explored here, but there is no one story accepted as a complete fact. Still, scholars and historians have agreed on a select few facts.
Valentine’s Day wasn’t always about love, at least according to one popular legend. It is said that the pagan holiday Lupercalia could be responsible for inspiring its founding. Lupercalia was held on February 15 each year and was a festival that supposedly celebrated fertility and cleansed the city of any evil. The festival was in honor of Lupercus, known as the god of fertility. Legend has it that two twin brothers, Romulus and Remus (the founders of Rome), were nurtured by a she-wolf in the Lupercal, a cave that sat at the base of the Palatine Hill in ancient Rome. Lupercal had an altar built inside of it.
Every festival started in the same manner — with a sacrifice. Men would strip off their clothes and slaughter goats and dogs, cutting the hides into strips shortly after. The men would cover their foreheads in blood and soak the hides in blood as well. They would then run around the hill of Palatine, striking women with the hides as a sort of symbolic beating.
It was said that if a woman was hit with one of the hides, they would be blessed with the gift of fertility. Therefore, women didn’t avoid getting hit with the hides and even would go out of their way to get hit by one; it was a good thing should they be struck, in their mind, for it symbolized fertility and good tidings.
Afterward, a giant feast was held with lots of wine. The goats that had been sacrificed had their skin cut up into small pieces and the people used these pieces to cover various parts of their bodies. Lupercus, the god of fertility, was often represented as being half-naked and having the other half covered with goat’s skin. So, this was their way of paying tribute to Lupercus.
How Valentine’s Day is linked to Lupercalia
There was also matchmaking that went on at the festival in which men drew the names of women and were then paired with them for the rest of the year. Often, these matches ended in a marriage. However, some historians argue that this particular event never occurred, at least not in Ancient Rome. Similarly, other historians assert that Lupercalia is not, in fact, related to Valentine’s Day, but has been equated as such in the modern day simply because the festival celebrated fertility, attraction, and marriage.
Pope Gelasius and the history of celebrations on February 14
In the late fifth century, Pope Gelasius assumed responsibility for the Catholic Church. Lupercalia was still a popular holiday, and this bothered the Church. So, the Pope decided to honor martyred Saint Valentine by declaring February 14 as a day to celebrate him through various feasts. He also wrote a long, stern letter that forbade Christians to partake in Lupercalia. This effectively put an end to Lupercalia in the year 496 A.D.
Emperor Claudius II, Saint Valentine, and the Roman legacy of Valentine’s Day
Who was Saint Valentine? He may actually have been two different people under the same name, both murdered by the ancient Romans. One of them was said to have been beheaded by Emperor Claudius II because he was helping persecuted Christian couples get married at a time when it was outlawed. The emperor had banned marriages because he wanted young men to join the military; a marriage would have allowed them to avoid serving at all. The other Saint Valentine was said to have been killed because he was helping Christians escape persecution. Saint Valentine supposedly passed away from a beheading on February 14 around 270 A.D. when the emperor learned about his disobedience.
Although Saint Valentine is recognized as a real person, there is still a lot of mystery around his life. The Catholic Church stopped giving reverence to him in 1969 because of all of this confusion, but he is still an officially recognized saint.
All in all, Saint Valentine seems to be the main reason why Valentine’s Day exists today.
This is the truthfulness of Valentine’s Day to the extent that one wants to believe it is. As mentioned, no one knows for sure the exact historical context that created Valentine’s Day, at least not down to the details. Although it’s shrouded in mystery, one can conclude that the meaning of February 14 has changed drastically over the centuries. In fact, the meaning of the holiday today is unmatched to what it meant back then — which appears to be for the best. Valentine’s Day has a rather unromantic past, but that does not seem to matter today. Instead, people choose to associate the day with romanticism, love, and care. However, one also has to note that the majority of people do not know the dark history behind this holiday.
Valentine’s Day throughout the centuries
Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to write a poem about Valentine’s Day in a romantic way. This occurred during the 14th century. Chaucer’s poem switched people’s mindsets from viewing February 14 as a day of friendship to seeing it as a day of celebration for romantic couples. In the 17th century, Shakespeare references Valentine’s Day in his play Hamlet.
Rising popularity during the Industrial Revolution
Fast forward to the Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries, and Valentine’s Day begins to gain even more popularity. A woman named Esther Howland designed the first valentines in the United States and years later, Hallmark began producing their own. The very first box of chocolates sold in a heart-shaped container was produced by the Cadbury company in England in 1868. Now, around 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are bought each year for people to give to their lovers. Later, candy hearts would become popular as would Hershey’s kisses.
The meaning of Valentine's Day today
While Valentine’s Day appears to have been named after Saint Valentine, the meaning it carries today is based around everything but the holiday’s history. Today, February 14 is all about love, affection, and adoration. It usually involves buying and receiving gifts, going on a special date night, or exchanging valentines.
The truth about Valentine's Day and its costs
The average Valentine’s Day costs around $512, which can include popular gifts like a fancy dinner for two people, 12 red roses, chocolate, and jewelry. Take out the fancy dinner, and the cost averages around $147. While money is no indication of how much you love your partner, many individuals might feel that they need to dish out more money for their significant other on February 14.
Valentine’s Day in the modern world
For many, Valentine’s Day goes deeper than the dollar sign. Couples genuinely consider how to love their partner well on this day and plan ahead to create a meaningful day. Some surprise their partner with breakfast in bed, write long handwritten love letters, or plan an intricate weekend getaway. In this way, Valentine’s Day is also more than its name—people give it special meanings that are personal to them, and many have fond memories of February 14.
Deciding whether to celebrate on Valentine’s Day
Of course, there are couples who assign no meaning to Valentine’s Day and choose not to celebrate at all. They may prefer to celebrate their partner in little (or big) ways throughout the year and don’t see the need for a specific day focused on showing affection. As long as a couple openly talks about their expectations for February 14, it should make it easier to avoid any conflict. After discussing the holiday even just once, couples will likely have a better understanding of how to approach that day in the future. The truth of Valentine’s Day is that it can be whatever you choose to make it.
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What was Pope Gelasius known for?
Pope Gelasius I, who lived in the Middle Ages, is best known for officially establishing Valentine’s Day as a Christian feast in the fifth century. His efforts helped shape the tradition of honoring two men named Valentine, who were martyred during the third century. The celebration evolved over time and eventually became observed all across the world.
What did Emperor Claudius II do to Valentine?
Emperor Claudius II ruled Rome at one point in late antiquity — from about 268-270. During his reign, he had two men named Valentine executed for defying his orders. One of the priests is believed to have healed the blind daughter of his jailer, earning him favor before his death. Legend states that before he died, he left a letter signed "from your Valentine," which inspired later romantic traditions.
How is Pope Gelasius linked to Valentine’s Day?
Pope Gelasius played a crucial role in transforming the festival of Lupercalia, a drunken revel in ancient Roman society, into a Christian tradition. He declared February 14 as a day to honor the martyrdom of two men named Valentine from the Middle Ages. Over time, this day became associated with romance, and today, it is known for flowers, love letters, and chocolates.
What was the Roman festival of Lupercalia?
Lupercalia was an ancient Roman festival held in mid-February at Palatine Hill, near the city of Rome. It included a drunken revel along with several pagan rituals intended to promote fertility and purify the body. Some historians believe that elements of this festival were Christianized into Valentine’s Day, merging old traditions with new romance customs.
Why is Saint Valentine connected to love?
Saint Valentine, one of the two men martyred in the third century, became associated with love due to his defiance of Emperor Claudius II’s decree that forbade soldiers from marrying. He secretly wed lovers, believing in the sanctity of marriage, which ultimately led to his death. His actions inspired the modern celebration of Valentine’s Day, where gifts, flowers, and other heartfelt gestures have become cherished traditions that many young women and men of today’s generation look forward to.
What should you write in cards on Valentine's Day?
Many people write messages of love letters in Hallmark cards, expressing their love and admiration. A simple and heartfelt note such as "You are my rest, my joy, and my love" can be meaningful. For a more personal touch, you could list everything that you love and are grateful for about your partner. Inspired by the legend of Saint Valentine, some sign their cards with "From your Valentine," continuing the tradition from the third century.
Why is Valentine’s Day on February 14?
The date of February 14 was designated by Pope Gelasius I to replace Lupercalia, the fertility festival originated from Rome. It is believed that Saint Valentine was executed on this day in the third century, solidifying its place in Christian tradition. Over time, it evolved into a widely celebrated occasion filled with flowers, mass-produced valentines, and the Cupid as a symbol of love.
In some countries there are different traditions. Japan, for example, has White Day. This is celebrated on March 14 as a day for those who received gifts on Valentine’s Day to return the favor. Similarly, South Korea observes Black Day on April 14, where those who did not receive gifts gather to eat black bean noodles.
What is the real story behind Valentine's Day?
The origins of Valentine’s Day are rooted in early martyrologies, which recorded the death of at least two men named Valentine during the third century. Unfortunately, the passage of time has muddled things, making it difficult to pinpoint a single historical figure behind the holiday. One widely accepted version states that a priest named Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s orders and secretly performed marriages for soldiers, leading to his execution. His legacy, along with later medieval traditions, helped shape how the rest of the world sees the holiday today: as one of romance.
What is the dark story of Valentine's day?
While Valentine’s Day is now associated with love, its history is not without darkness. Some accounts suggest that Valentine was brutally executed—beaten and beheaded—for his defiance against Roman rule. Others link the holiday to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which involved sacrifices and pagan rituals. Beyond its origins, history has seen tragic events on this day, such as the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Still, through centuries of transformation, the holiday found its place as a day of romance despite its bloody past.
What is the purpose of Valentine's Day?
The purpose of Valentine’s Day has evolved over centuries. First and foremost, it was a Christian holiday to honor a third-century martyr, though it's not directly related to Jesus. However, for some devout Christians, it is a time to reflect on Christ’s love and to share that love with others.
Now, it is widely known as a general day for love and affection. In today’s world, mass-produced Valentine's Day items like bouquets, Valentine-themed Hallmark cards, and heart-shaped chocolates have become symbols of these modern customs. It is a celebration embraced by many people across several countries.
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