History of Valentine's Day

Love's holiday

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, provides an opportunity for happy couples and lovelorn singles alike to express their emotions. Traditionally, lovers and potential suitors communicate via written messages, often penned anonymously. Although its presence in modern life dates back hundreds of years, the exact origin of the holiday and its peculiar customs proves less concrete.

Mystery men

Thought to be named in honor of one of two men named Valentine, the celebration comes to us through the Catholic Church, which canonized both of these early martyrs. Although little historical data exists to explain the specific contributions of Saint Valentine of Rome or Saint Valentine of Terni, both are believed to be early stalwarts of the Christian faith who suffered persecution in the Roman Empire. After the dedication of February 14th to these early saints, a third man named Valentine was canonized after suffering persecution in Africa, further complicating the issue of discerning the identity of the historical Saint Valentine.

Pagan roots

Prior to the establishment of any Christian holiday, several prominent pagan rituals commemorated the end of winter and the beginning of the earth's return to fertility. The popular customs associated with Valentine's Day sprang from a conventional belief generally held in England and France during the Middle Ages that half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair. Thus, February 14th became a time for the mutual exchange of love notes among romantically involved individuals. Many poems and works of literature from the High Renaissance onward devoted to matters of love and courtship include references to Valentine's Day, including an early citation by Chaucer in 1381.

The paper chase

Settlers from Britain brought the holiday and its customs with them to the Americas in the 18th century. Modern Valentine symbols include hearts, in paper or candy form, and winged angels, particularly a Renaissance-inspired version if the Roman god Cupid. Since the 19th century, stationary companies have mass-produced Valentines, so that the practice of handwriting personalized greetings has given way to the purchase of cards. In 1847, Esther Howland (1828-1904), the daughter of a Worcester, Massachusetts's bookseller, produced a series of embossed paper cards based on English designs, creating the greeting card industry. The Greeting Card Association estimates that, worldwide, approximately one billion Valentines are sent each year, an amount of cards surpassed only by the annual Christmas flurry.

Cost of loving adjustments

The practice of exchanging letters on Valentine's Day has come to include all manner of gifts, including such notables as chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. Further, this practice has been exported to other countries such as China, Korea, and Japan, although many other cultures around the world celebrate love-themed holidays at a different time of year.

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