St. Valentine, a name that is synonymous with love and romance across the globe, lived at a time when the Roman Empire was at its zenith. He is often best remembered for the act of marrying couples in secret defiance of the Roman Emperor's bans. However, the truth about St. Valentine is far more complex, woven from a mixture of historical fragments, religious tradition, and folklore. This has Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Friday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts In this article, we take a look at the various historical and cultural influences that have shaped Valentine’s Day. From the mysterious figure of Saint Valentine and the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia to the medieval traditions of courtly love and the commercialization of the holiday in the modern era, we explore how February 14th became the day to celebrate love. Everyone loves a good love story, but the history of Valentine's Day is a bit different from the romanticized version of the holiday recognized today. While February 14 is widely celebrated with sweet Valentine's Day treats , heartfelt Valentine's Day gifts , and romantic dinners , few people are familiar with the holiday's true origins. With regards to how the day is celebrated by the clergy or religious organizations, the Anglican Church lets married people renew their vows on St. Valentine’s Day. This tradition of reciting vows is similar to what some married people did in the 18th century on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is the holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. Valentine’s Day, in fact, originated as a liturgical feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. So, how did we get from beheading to betrothing on Valentine’s Day? Early origins of St. Valentine. Ancient sources reveal that there were several St. Valentines who died on Feb. 14. That's what Valentine's day is all about, right? Well, maybe not. The origin of this holiday for the expression of love really isn't romantic at all—at least not in the traditional sense. Father Frank O'Gara of Whitefriars Street Church in Dublin, Ireland, tells the real story of the man behind the holiday—St. Valentine. Valentine's Day always falls on February 14, meaning that the day of the week varies year on year. In 2025, Valentine's Day will fall on a Friday for the first time since 2020. Where did it come Where does the name Valentine come from?. The holiday is aptly named after Saint Valentine, but who exactly was he? Valentine is likely based on a combination of two Valentines who were executed on February 14 in different years by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century A.C.E., according to NPR. Valentine's day; Celebrate Valentine's Day with Free Kids' Stories! Celebrate Valentine's Day with our collection of heartwarming stories for children aged 3 to 12! Dive into enchanting tales of love, friendship, and kindness that will captivate young hearts. Enjoy reading online for free or download as PDF to share the love with your little ones! Read along with us as we explore these six amazing Valentine's Day books, including How to Catch a Loveosaurus, Little Blue Truck's Valentine, Love from the History and Customs of Valentine's Day - Valentine's Day, celebrated annually on February 14th, has its origins in both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. Free printable reading with questions (PDF file). Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history. New strain in Calif. Get the USA TODAY app Start the day smarter ☀️ 🐍Year of the Snake Ever wondered about the real story behind Valentine's Day? Join me as we dive into the captivating tale of love, defiance, and martyrdom that gave birth to t Hear this story. Valentine's Day 2025 is all about love reaching new heights: We all want someone to look at us how Travis Kelce looks at Taylor Swift on the football field, or dance it out to Thank you for downloading this great Valentine’s Day freebie!!! I hope you and your students really enjoy this nonfiction reading activity. The history on Valentine’s Day is murky. I took information from several different sources and checked dates and facts. Since most of this is legend it is difficult to report with 100% accuracy. Valentine's Day flowers. Score special savings at UrbanStems, Venus et Fleur, 1-800-Flowers and more for February 14. Check out our list of the best flower delivery services. 10 best Valentine's These days, Valentine's Day – celebrated in not just the United States, but Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia – is a universal holiday for lovers to demonstrate their Howland became known as the “Mother of the American Valentine.” In 1882, she sold her company to the Whitney Company, making it the world’s largest manufacturer of Valentine’s Day cards at that time. Valentine’s Day has grown in popularity since its earliest beginnings. Today, it is one of the most popular holidays in the world.
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