History of Valentine's Day

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With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, we want to delve deeper into the history of this special occasion. We thought it would be appropriate for our research because we are making cupcakes to celebrate this occasion. February has always been regarded and celebrated as the month of romance. The reason for that is because of Valentine’s Day. St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 across United States and in other countries around the world. However, who was St. Valentine and how did this holiday come to be?

There are many legends regarding to the identity and background of St. Valentine. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three saints that are named Valentine or Valentinus. All three of them were martyred. In one legend, Valentine was a priest who married young couples off  in opposition to Emperor Claudius II’s orders. Claudius II believed that men who were single are better soldiers than those with families, so he outlawed marriage for young men. When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was beheaded on February 14. In a different story, it said that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape from Roman prisons. Another legend suggests that Valentine was actually imprisoned and that he sent a “valentine” greeting to a girl he loved.

While some may believe in the stories and legends behind why Valentine’s Day is celebrated in mid-February, there are others who linked it to the Christian Church. Some believed that it has to do with the celebration of Lupercalia, which was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. It was also dedicated to the founders of Rome which was Romulus and Remus.

By the end of the 5th century, the celebration of Lupercalia was outlawed because it was deemed “un-Christian” with the rise of Christianity. However, Pope Gelasius declared St. Valentine’s Day on February 14. Initially, the day was not associated with love until much later. It was a common belief that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season in France and England. This added onto the idea that the day should be associated with love.

Besides the United States, Valentine’s Day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. The holiday gained popularity around the 17th century, and by the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers to write handwritten notes to each other as a way to express their affection. By the 1900s, printed cards became an alternative in contrast to handwritten notes.