Saint Valentine's Day History
The history of Valentine's Day and Saint Valentine.The history of Saint Valentine’s Day is shrouded in folklore. There are legends that speak of three saints, martyred to the cause of love. By some strange co-incidence, all of them were martyred on the same day- February 14.
It is significant that Pope Gelasius I declared the feast of Saints Valentine in 496 AD, on this day. This feast was later removed in 1969, as the stories around it were based on legends. Let us take a look the trials and tribulations of these saints.
To understand the legend of the Roman Saint Valentine’s; let’s go back to 3rd century, when the Emperor Claudius II reigned, a time when falling in love seemed like a terrible sin. Marriage was made illegal for young soldiers, and love became a crime. Their only hope was Saint Valentine, a priest who would marry them in secret. As a punishment, he was imprisoned by the Emperor, tortured and eventually put to death for encouraging the path of love.
Some records show that Saint Valentine turned to Christianity while he was in jail, which was punishable by death then. He helped many Christians in prison and even showed other prisoners the Christian view of love and forgiveness.
Some lore suggests that he fell in love with the jailors daughter and sent her a letter in secret, signed as, “from your Valentine.” This note could be the first Valentine’s Day greetings send to one’s beloved. This entire aspect of defiance for love connects the history of Saint Valentine to bravery or “valor”.
The second famous St. Valentine was the “Valentine of Terni”. He spread the message of true love, it is said that he had the holiness to perform miracles, like healing the old and infirm. Of course, these were times when Christians were persecuted and he was beheaded for his faith.
The third legend is one of the most influential in the history of St. Valentine’s; he is Valentinius of Alexandria, a Gnostic bishop. He preached the sanctity and importance of marriage, which was different from the growing asceticism of Christian thought.
Legend says that Valentine of Terni and Valentine of Alexandria or both buried along the Via Flaminia outside Rome. In the middle ages, there have been churches dedicated to Saint Valentinus. Several written “Acta” or chronicles of the church have been found about the Valentinus of Terni and Saint Valentinus, speaking of their life and miracles.
If were to look simply at the romantic aspect of the day, then the history of Valentine’s Day goes back to the dawn of western civilization – February was always the month of love. Perhaps because there is a promise of spring ahead and the signs of fertility are all over. The ancient Greeks, governed by their passionate Gods had already set aside the days between mid-January to February to rejoice the love between Zeus and Hera. Later, the ancient Romans, celebrated February 15 as “Lupercalcia” as the day of love.
The first actual renowned written romantic celebration in the history of Saint Valentine’s Day was in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Parliament of Foules”, written in 1382. There are no well-known written anecdotes or poetry of romantic love, associated with Saint Valentine’s Day before this at all. This poem was in honor of the first engagement anniversary of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, they were both fourteen years old. Later with the advent of courtly love in the fifteenth century, the importance of St. Valentine’s Day grew, making writing and receiving love poems on this day a norm. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia refers to it, reflecting its growing popularity.
In the USA, Valentine Day celebrations were a part of the British settlers and it became more popular with the mass production of greeting cards. Eventually the idea expanded and consumerism caught up, until gifts including diamonds and chocolates, became a big business on Valentine’s Day.
Today Valentine’s Day is a major celebration, across the world, and it drives the economic boom for the entire month of February. Yet as we passionately give gifts, or wait for them, let us remember that the most important facet of this day is love. For any relationship to survive, whether it is romantic or platonic love, all you really need is trust and the willingness to go the distance together, side by side.
It is significant that Pope Gelasius I declared the feast of Saints Valentine in 496 AD, on this day. This feast was later removed in 1969, as the stories around it were based on legends. Let us take a look the trials and tribulations of these saints.
To understand the legend of the Roman Saint Valentine’s; let’s go back to 3rd century, when the Emperor Claudius II reigned, a time when falling in love seemed like a terrible sin. Marriage was made illegal for young soldiers, and love became a crime. Their only hope was Saint Valentine, a priest who would marry them in secret. As a punishment, he was imprisoned by the Emperor, tortured and eventually put to death for encouraging the path of love.
Some records show that Saint Valentine turned to Christianity while he was in jail, which was punishable by death then. He helped many Christians in prison and even showed other prisoners the Christian view of love and forgiveness.
Some lore suggests that he fell in love with the jailors daughter and sent her a letter in secret, signed as, “from your Valentine.” This note could be the first Valentine’s Day greetings send to one’s beloved. This entire aspect of defiance for love connects the history of Saint Valentine to bravery or “valor”.
The second famous St. Valentine was the “Valentine of Terni”. He spread the message of true love, it is said that he had the holiness to perform miracles, like healing the old and infirm. Of course, these were times when Christians were persecuted and he was beheaded for his faith.
The third legend is one of the most influential in the history of St. Valentine’s; he is Valentinius of Alexandria, a Gnostic bishop. He preached the sanctity and importance of marriage, which was different from the growing asceticism of Christian thought.
Legend says that Valentine of Terni and Valentine of Alexandria or both buried along the Via Flaminia outside Rome. In the middle ages, there have been churches dedicated to Saint Valentinus. Several written “Acta” or chronicles of the church have been found about the Valentinus of Terni and Saint Valentinus, speaking of their life and miracles.
If were to look simply at the romantic aspect of the day, then the history of Valentine’s Day goes back to the dawn of western civilization – February was always the month of love. Perhaps because there is a promise of spring ahead and the signs of fertility are all over. The ancient Greeks, governed by their passionate Gods had already set aside the days between mid-January to February to rejoice the love between Zeus and Hera. Later, the ancient Romans, celebrated February 15 as “Lupercalcia” as the day of love.
The first actual renowned written romantic celebration in the history of Saint Valentine’s Day was in Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Parliament of Foules”, written in 1382. There are no well-known written anecdotes or poetry of romantic love, associated with Saint Valentine’s Day before this at all. This poem was in honor of the first engagement anniversary of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, they were both fourteen years old. Later with the advent of courtly love in the fifteenth century, the importance of St. Valentine’s Day grew, making writing and receiving love poems on this day a norm. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia refers to it, reflecting its growing popularity.
In the USA, Valentine Day celebrations were a part of the British settlers and it became more popular with the mass production of greeting cards. Eventually the idea expanded and consumerism caught up, until gifts including diamonds and chocolates, became a big business on Valentine’s Day.
Today Valentine’s Day is a major celebration, across the world, and it drives the economic boom for the entire month of February. Yet as we passionately give gifts, or wait for them, let us remember that the most important facet of this day is love. For any relationship to survive, whether it is romantic or platonic love, all you really need is trust and the willingness to go the distance together, side by side.
History of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 14th February all over the world and is the day when you express your love in front of your lover. The history of Valentine’s Day is explained in this context. How the Valentine’s Day has changed its form over years?
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The Origins of Valentine's Day
The history of Valentine's Day can be traced back to an obscure Catholic Church feast day, said to be in honor of Saint Valentine.