Every year on February 14th, people celebrate the holiday of love. Loved ones exchange sweets, flowers, and gifts — all in the name of Saint Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did the tradition come from?
The story of the patron saint of this holiday is shrouded in mystery. We know that February has long been celebrated as one of the months of romance, and that Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, has both Christian and ancient Roman roots.
Who Was Saint Valentine?
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend says that Valentine was a priest who served in Rome during the third century. At that time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, so he outlawed marriage for young men. Realizing the injustice of this decree, Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform secret marriages for young lovers. When his actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that Valentine be put to death.
Another story claims that Valentine was executed for helping Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, Valentine sent the first “valentine” greeting while imprisoned, after falling in love with a young girl — possibly the jailer’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he allegedly wrote her a letter signed: “From your Valentine.” That phrase is still commonly used in today’s valentines.
Although the true stories of Valentine remain a mystery, all legends portray him as a sympathetic, heroic, and — most importantly — romantic figure.
Why Is It Celebrated in February?
Some believe the date was chosen to mark the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial, thought to have occurred around the year 270. Others argue that the Christian Church placed Valentine’s Day in mid-February to Christianize the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated around February 15. This festival, dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus, and to the founders of Rome — Romulus and Remus, was a fertility celebration.
Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was later outlawed for being un-Christian. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius officially declared February 14 as Saint Valentine’s Day. However, the romantic aspect of the day didn’t develop until much later. In the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 marked the beginning of the mating season for birds. This idea contributed to the notion that Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.
The oldest known written valentine is a poem from 1415, penned by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London after his capture in the Battle of Agincourt. That valentine is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London. A few years later, King Henry V is said to have hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note for Catherine of Valois.
Where Is Valentine’s Day Celebrated?
Besides the United States, Valentine’s Day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. In Britain, Valentine’s Day became popular around the 17th century. By the mid-18th century, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters. Affordable postage rates also contributed to the popularity of sending Valentine greetings by mail.
In America, people likely began exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, a woman named Esther A. Howland began mass-producing Valentine cards. Known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” she created elaborate designs with real lace, ribbons, and colorful pictures. According to the Greeting Card Association, approximately 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second most popular occasion for sending cards, after Christmas, which sees an estimated 2.6 billion cards sent. About 85% of all valentines are purchased by women.
Valentine’s Day has also become very popular in the Czech Republic, especially among younger people. Do you celebrate it, or do you prefer the Czech tradition of celebrating love on May 1st? If you do celebrate, do you already know what gift you’ll give your partner this year? If not, take a look at our page full of Valentine’s Day inspiration — you’re sure to find something for everyone :)
