Valentine’s Day, celebrated every year on February 14th, is a day dedicated to love and romance. But its origins are rooted in both history and legend, dating back to ancient Rome.
One popular theory traces the holiday to St. Valentine, a Christian martyr who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages for young soldiers. Valentine secretly performed weddings and was eventually executed for his defiance. Before his death, he allegedly sent a love note signed *“from your Valentine,” giving birth to the tradition of exchanging affectionate messages.
Others link Valentine’s Day to the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, a fertility celebration held in mid-February. During this festival, men and women were paired together in a lottery, and some of these matches led to marriage. As Christianity spread, Lupercalia was replaced with a more romantic and religious observance honoring St. Valentine.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day became associated with courtly love, thanks in part to poets like Geoffrey Chaucer. By the 18th century, people in England began exchanging love letters and handmade cards, a tradition that later spread worldwide.
Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with flowers, chocolates, and heartfelt gestures, continuing a centuries-old tradition of love and devotion.