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The Ancient Origins of Valentine’s Day
By Neil Peterson | February 13, 2010
It may come as little surprise, but in many parts of the world, Valentine’s Day is big business. From chocolate boxes and candy hearts to sentimental greeting cards and red roses, the holiday represents a significant economic boost in the middle of what is generally the slowest retail month of the year. Great news for shopkeepers, but it’s not surprising that all that commercialism leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many. So, what is the true meaning of Valentine’s Day? Is it simply a ‘Hallmark holiday’ as so many willingly attest, or truly a celebration of love? Like most modern observances, the true origins of Valentine’s Day are nearly as old as civilization itself – and of a different spirit than what we honor today.
The History of Valentine’s Day
Many scholars point to the ancient Roman tradition of Lupercalia as the origin of our modern Valentine’s Day. Lupercalia was observed on February 13th, 14th and15th as a pagan fertility festival, marking the official beginning of spring. The festival featured a coupling ceremony, in which Rome’s young male citizenry would choose the name of a single female from an urn, therefore matching them for the upcoming year. Another ritual said to have taken place during the festival involved whips made of goat-skin, which were used by the young men to (likely, gently) whip the women in an effort to boost their fertility. The Athenians also marked the period between mid-January and mid-February as the month of Gamelion, a time to honor the sacred union of Zeus and Hera.
The observance of St. Valentine’s Day on February 14th was officially recognized in AD 498 by Pope Gelasius as a Christian feast day. (It was a common practice in early Christianity to replace traditional pagan festivals with church-sanctioned holidays.) Though it cannot be known for sure, it is speculated that the day itself was named for one, if not several, Roman martyrs. The most honored being Valentine of Rome, who was beheaded in AD 289 at the order of Emperor Claudius II. Legend has it that Claudius had outlawed marriage for young men, believing that men without a wife or family made for superior soldiers. Valentine, a priest, continued to perform wedding ceremonies privately, but this act of treason was eventually uncovered and led to his quick execution. In this account, the date of February 14th is thought to be the day of either Valentine’s death, or burial.
The tradition continued throughout the Middle Ages, often appearing in artistic works of the time. Geoffrey Chaucer is credited as the first writer to link the holiday with romantic love in his 1382 work ‘Parlement of Foules.’ (Translating to ‘Parliament of Fowls’ – and possibly referring to the beginning of bird mating season, with its obvious fertility connotations.)
The practice of sharing handwritten notes or cards began in Great Britain in the 17th century, furthering the holiday’s popularity. Although earlier examples of Valentine’s Day letters exist (the first being credited as a letter from the Duke of Orleans, written to his love while imprisoned in the Tower of London) it was not until advancements in mass-printing and cheaper postal delivery made the tradition available across all levels of society.
In 1913, Hallmark would introduce their first Valentine card – and the rest is history. Today, Valentine’s Day is the year’s second largest card-giving holiday (following Christmas), and offers a related boost to the US economy to the tune of $14 billion in sales. What began as a sacred fertility and sacrificial rite has since become celebrated in countries around the world as a day for love and affection. Commercialism not required.
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