Valentine’s day symbolizes more than just an anniversary. It is a day for proposals, new love, and continuations of strong romantic bonds. It opens a portal to rekindling past relationships, gift-giving, affection-showing, and most importantly the gifting of chocolate. Yet, when did this start? When did love to become such a symbolic, beautiful, and profitable emotion for corporates?
Primarily, Valentine’s Day originated from a “Cupid figure” in 270 A.D., a priest by the name of Valentine. Back then, it was less for affection-showing, and more to save lives. In 270 AD the emperor ordered for all unmarried men to serve in war. To prevent couples from being split apart, Saint Valentine risked his life to defy the emperor’s commands and secretly married couples. Valentine’s day mourns the death of Saint Valentine, which is reportedly mid- February, hence the date February 14th.
A second myth regarding Valentine’s Day is that it originated in Ancient Rome as early as the third century AD during the celebration of the feast of Lupercalia, a three-day feast spanning from February 13th to 15th. During this feast, men sacrificed goats and dogs and whipped women with the animal corpses’ behinds. They believed this action would make the women fertile. During the festival, women’s names were put into a lottery for men to pull out. Depending on the names pulled out, the women would be paired with the men to be a couple for the duration of the festival or even after the festival ended. The degrading actions performed during the festival, and the demeaning story behind it is much different to what Valentine’s Day signifies today.
Today, Valentine’s Day has strayed from its misogynistic origins. It celebrates both sides of the relationship, and relationships of all sexualities. This progression impressively indicates the impacts of globalization, modernization, and multiculturalism. Valentine’s day, like many other widespread, globalized holidays, originate from a Christian background. Now, it has spread to be celebrated by more than just orthodox Christians, and it is celebrated by lovers to show their pride in their relationship rather than to worship Saint Valentine. Despite this, it marks the kindness of the selfless priest, and the will of couples historically to stay together despite the risks of being executed or punished by the government. This defiance shows that the desire for love overpowers all else and is an important message for the world. It is especially during darker times like those plagued by the current global pandemic, that Valentine’s Day is important. It serves as a reminder to love and be loved, no matter what the world around you does.
Cover photo from TIME magazine.