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Long before Valentine's Day was recognized as a holiday, the Romans held an annual festival called Lupercalia. Celebrated between February 13 and 15, Lupercalia was a pagan fertility festival 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 1. The Ancient Roman Origins of Valentine’s Day. Before Valentine’s Day became associated with love, the Romans were already celebrating something much wilder—a festival called Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival held from February 13 to 15 in honor of Lupercus, the Roman god of fertility and agriculture. Howland’s contribution to the commercialization of Valentine’s Day helped establish the holiday as a significant occasion for gift-giving and expressing love. The Commercialization of Valentine’s Day. The modern celebration of Valentine’s Day as we know it today began to take shape in the 18th and 19th centuries. Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of this festival of candy and cupids are actually dark, bloody — and a bit muddled. By the 18th century, exchanging handmade cards and tokens of affection became a common tradition associated with the holiday. Who sent the first Valentine’s Day card? The first known Valentine’s Day card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in the early 15th century. Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. The beginning of the holiday in the middle of February is shrouded in mystery, including who was Saint Valentine since Valentinus was a common name 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. We might typically associate Valentine's Day with romance, roses and chocolate, but the holiday's history has a lot more to it than meets the eye. From a Roman festival and Christian martyrs to a medieval celebration of spring , we explore the origins of Valentine's Day in more detail In this article, we will explore the origins, history, and traditions of Valentine’s Day, shedding light on how this beloved holiday evolved. The Pagan Roots of Valentine’s Day: The Festival of Lupercalia. The Valentine’s Day origin can be traced back to ancient Roman celebrations, specifically the Festival of Lupercalia. Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. The beginning of the holiday in the middle of February is shrouded in mystery, including who was Saint Valentine since Valentinus was a common name Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. The beginning of the holiday in the middle of February is shrouded in mystery, including who was Saint Valentine since Valentinus was a common name But, since his contemporaries were more familiar with the Feb. 14 Saint Valentine’s Day, that was the date that became attached to the new holiday of romance. In some ways, that may be a good thing. 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. At the end of the day, Valentine's Day stands as a far gentler event than the ancient Lupercalia. We see it through the lens of heart emojis and carefully curated dates. But the essence remains. We seek love, belonging, and renewal. We come together in big or small ways to affirm that life carries hope. 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. Later, in the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I declared the day of his death as St. Valentine’s Day. ANCIENT MATCHMAKERS. The celebration surrounding this day actually has roots in an ancient pagan festival that started centuries before Valentine was even alive. Held in Rome each February, part of the event focused on bringing new couples together. However, the history of Valentine‘s Day is not all roses and sweetness. In fact, some of the most devastating and pivotal events have occurred on February 14th over the centuries, forever linking this holiday with not only love but loss, violence, and bitter struggles. After digging through and understanding the history behind February 14, you may still be left wondering whether or not Valentine’s Day is an actual holiday. It’s likely safe to conclude that it is a holiday, but a holiday that isn’t celebrated by everyone.
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