A History of Valentine's Day

Every February 14th, we celebrate a day for lovers. Candy and flowers are given, romance and candlelight dinners abound! Red roses symbolize the deepest love and the day is a favorite for starry eyed brides as they exchange vows in matrimony. But where did the traditions come from? How was Valentine's Day named? How did Cupid become associated with the day?

Valentine's Day was named for a Catholic saint named Valentine who served in the priesthood during third century Rome under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius outlawed marriage of young single men. Valentine continued to perform secret marriages of young lovers and when discovered, was ordered to be put to death.

In one story, Valentine is said to have sent the first Valentine greeting. While in prison he was visited by a young girl, possibly the jailors daughter. They fell in love and before his death he sent her a letter signed "From Your Valentine" which is still used in greetings today. In one account, it is said that he cured the jailors daughter of blindness. There is much shadow and mystery around the original account but over the centuries, St. Valentine became a heroic and romantic figure.

The origins of the actual celebration may have started with the Roman sacrificial feast of Lupercalia. The feast was celebrated during the middle of February as a time for purification. It is quite possible that the Christian church incorporated the ritual in order to "Christianize" the pagan festival.

The Mythology of Valentine's Day

Cupid was taken out of Roman mythology as the son of Venus. In our present Valentine's celebrations, he is represented as a winged, cherubic, youth armed with a bow and arrows and sometimes surrounded by hearts. In Greek mythology, we know him as Eros, the god of love born of Aphrodite and Ares. Cupid was able to cause deep and undying love by piercing the hearts of men and women with his magic arrows.

The red rose is said to have been a favorite of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

Doves were thought to be the favorite bird of Venus. They mate for life and are symbols of loyalty and love.

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