Valentine's Day, which is celebrated annually on February 14, has long been shrouded in various secrets and legends of its origin. Some supporters of Valentine's Day attach a romantic significance to this day, while others regard it only for commercial reasons. However, it is still worth finding out where we can get the origins and history of a well-known date.
History of Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is not only a holiday of romance, love and tenderness. According to various sources, the holiday is shrouded in many legends, and no one knows for sure whether Saint Valentine existed and whether he really gave his beloved a romantic Valentine for the first time.
Priest Valentin
According to one legend, in 269 AD. Roman Emperor Claudius II sought to conquer the whole world, but to carry out expansion he had to gather a strong army. Since the family institution kept men from military service, the emperor issued a decree prohibiting marriage during military service.
However, the young priest Valentin, who was still involved in natural sciences and medicine, did not listen to the orders of Claudius II and married the lovers in secret from everyone. When the emperor found out about this, he sentenced Valentin to death. But while awaiting execution of his death sentence in prison, Valentin fell in love with the jailer’s blind daughter, Julia, and healed her.
Before his execution, he left her a farewell message and signed it “Your Valentine.” It is with this incredible moment and manifestation of love that both the appearance of Valentine's Day and the custom of giving valentines are associated. The priest's head was cut off, and Valentine was later canonized by the Catholic Church. In 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th Valentine's Day.
Inspirer of Christianity Valentine
According to another legend, Valentine's Day originated as a remembrance of the Christian Valentine, who was a true inspiration to others. During the secret wedding of Roman patricians (representatives of the indigenous Roman people), they were all detained.
As a member of the upper class, Valentine could avoid execution, but his servants did not have such a privilege. However, they continued to admire him and conduct secret marriage ceremonies under his protection.
Three Martyrs of Valentine
As reported in other legends and stories, there may have been at least three other men named Valentine who died as martyrs for the Christian faith.
The earliest Roman chronograph of the year 354 says nothing about them, but if you believe the ancient legends, then they all died no later than the year 270.
One of the Valentines was a priest and physician in Rome and died in 269 (the time of Emperor Claudius II). The second Valentine was bishop of Terni (Italy) and died in 197. The two Valentines, who died as martyrs for the Christian faith, were buried in the same cemetery (near the modern Porta del Popolo in Rome, now often called the "St. Valentine's Gate").
Saint Valentine's Gate in Rome
Subsequently, the remains of the first Valentine were kept in one of the churches in Rome, and in 1836 Pope Gregory XVI donated the remains to the church in Dublin, where they are still kept. The remains of the second Valentine are today in the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni, the city of his pastorate.
The third Valentine lived in Egypt approximately 100-153. He was a valuable candidate for the position of Bishop of Rome (i.e., Pope) and in his sermons extolled the values of marriage as the embodiment of Christian love. Almost nothing is known about the circumstances of his death and the place of burial.
Pagan roots
Also, some sources note that Valentine's Day in Christian times replaced the pagan holiday of Lupercalia (in honor of the god Faun, and, according to another version, in honor of the goddess of marriage, the Juno family), which was also once celebrated annually on February 14. This replacement took place in 496 by order of the same Pope Gelasius I.
But there is nothing surprising in such a practice, since the dates for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the Nativity of John Kupala, which fell on the pagan festivals in honor of the winter and summer solstice (around December 25 and July 7, respectively), were chosen according to this principle.
Patron of the mentally ill
In the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Valentine is officially considered not the patron saint of lovers, but the patron saint of people suffering from nervous diseases. That is why icons often depict Valentine in the clothes of a priest or bishop, who heals a young man from epilepsy or mental disorders. Back then, such people were called mentally ill.
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill
According to church tradition, at the grave of St. Valentine, one young man who suffered from epilepsy prayed for a long time and recovered.
The Disappearance of Valentine's Day
As you know, Roman Catholics have 16 Saint Valentines and two Saint Valentines. In 1969, the patron saint of lovers was removed from the calendar of saints due to questionable historical justification. Now on February 14, Roman Catholics celebrate the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, whom Pope John II proclaimed as patron saints of Europe.
Today the UGCC celebrates February 14 as the supper of the Presentation and honoring the memory of the martyr Tryphon. The UOC also honors the memory of the martyr Tryphon, Perpetua, Satire, Satornila and others. It is believed that in Western Europe, Valentine's Day began to be widely celebrated since the 13th century, in the USA - since 1777.
According to the latest information, the relics of the patron saint of lovers, Saint Valentine, have been preserved for three centuries in a row in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region). The authenticity of the relic is allegedly confirmed by a document from the Pope dated 1759. As noted by Fr. Bohdan Dobryansky from the parish in Sambir, Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the Przemysl-Sambir diocese.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region)
The relics of St. Valentine in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region)
The history of Valentine's Day
According to legends, the ancient custom of sending cards to loved ones on Valentine's Day also originated in the Middle Ages. The very first Valentine's card in the world is considered to be a note sent by Duke Charles of Orleans in 1415.
February 14 is that amazing day when you can and should boldly confess your love. Moreover, you can communicate your overwhelming feelings to the culprit of the fire in your heart without a single word! All you need to do is give him (or her) a small paper heart. Valentine's Day is a favorite holiday for people of all ages. He is adored by those who have already met their soul mate, and people who have not yet smiled at heart happiness are waiting to ask for love. Where did he come from, and what brought him to modern Russia?
Eternal love story
Historical facts indicate that the prototype of Valentine's Day existed in Ancient Rome. To increase the birth rate, the ancient Romans came up with an unusual erotic festival - Lupercalia. On February 14, the goddess Juno, the patroness of women, motherhood and marriage, was honored here. All unmarried girls wrote their names on parchment and placed them in a common basket. Single guys, relying on luck, chose their girlfriend for the next year blindly.
The next day, February 15, the most beautiful young men ran naked around the city and whipped the women they met with belts. Roman beauties did not resist the ritual, but willingly exposed their bodies to the guys, having first taken off their clothes. Similar holidays were adopted by other pagan peoples.
In the Middle Ages, the custom of choosing a girlfriend for the year appeared in England. Young people, like the ancient Romans, pulled notes from the urn with the names of ladies. Relationships arose between the matching couples, they became Valentine and Valentina for each other.
The Story of Saint Valentine
The holiday of love found its heavenly patron in 496. Only then did the Pope proclaim February 14th as Valentine's Day. Who was the mysterious Valentine? There are several legends telling about the fate of the main saint of all lovers.
According to one of them, Valentin was a prisoner who was imprisoned for healing the sick with the help of an unknown force. People did not forget their savior and brought him notes. One day, a note fell into the hands of a security guard, who, believing in the young man’s abilities, asked him to heal his blind daughter. The doctor, who, by the way, was handsome, agreed and cured the girl of her illness. Seeing the white light and the handsome guy, the young lady immediately fell in love with her savior.
This story has a sad ending - on February 14, the young man in love was executed. Knowing that he had very little time to live, he wrote notes with confessions to his beloved and all his close people. This is where the tradition of giving each other valentines originated.
According to another beautiful, but also sad legend, Valentine was a Roman priest who served in the third century AD. It is well known that in those days there was a ban on soldiers marrying - Julius Claudius II forbade soldiers from creating families, who believed that wives prevented men from fighting calmly and defending their homeland.
Priest Valentin, despite strict prohibitions, continued to marry soldiers in love, for which he was sentenced to death. While in prison, the young priest fell madly in love with the guard's lovely daughter. The girl also reciprocated his feelings, but she learned that the guy was not indifferent to her only after his death. On the night of February 14, the lover Valentin wrote to the lady of his heart a beautiful confession of his heartfelt feelings, and in the morning the death sentence would be carried out.
How did Valentines come about?
In ancient times, lovers confessed their passionate feelings through words, songs and dances. And only in the 15th century did boys and girls give each other love notes. One of these valentines is still in the British Museum - this is a beautiful declaration of love from the Duke of Orleans to his adored wife, written in prison.
The peak of popularity was in the 18th century, when valentines were given to each other instead of flowers and gifts. Homemade colored postcards were especially popular in England. They were signed with poems, pierced with needles to create lace, and colored using stencils and ink. Even next to modern postcards produced in a printing house, antique hearts look chic.
Valentine's Day in different countries
In many countries, Valentine's Day has long gone beyond ancient customs and lost its Catholic connotation. Everyone who has love in their hearts considers it their holiday. In France, it is customary to give precious jewelry on Valentine's Day, and Americans traditionally present marzipan to their beloved ones. The Japanese sweeten the lives of their halves with chocolate figurines, and women present the knights of their hearts with valuable gifts.
British girls look out the window early in the morning in anticipation of their betrothed - it is believed that the first passerby is the one who is destined to become destiny. But this is not the most amazing custom of the country. On February 14, the British send tender love messages not only to all relatives and friends, but also to their beloved pets.
Interestingly, in Saudi Arabia, February 14 is strictly prohibited. Anyone who dares to remember him will be fined.
In Russia, they learned about Valentine's Day in the early nineties. It quickly fell in love with young people and immediately became a favorite social holiday. Now it is celebrated by people of all generations - this is a wonderful occasion to give a gift and confess your love to a dear person.
Some people love this holiday more than the New Year, others ignore it on principle. But everyone knows about Valentine's Day. Lovely valentines, tokens of attention, flowers and sweets - we prepare all this with trepidation for our loved ones. But not everyone knows where it came from; some are not even aware of the existence of alternative versions.
The Origin of Valentine's Day - Basic Version
One of the most popular versions of the history of the origin of Valentine's Day is considered to be the secret wedding of lovers by a priest. The Roman emperor Claudius II lived around the third century BC and was known as an ardent opponent of marriage unions. The fact is that he perceived marriage and family as an obstacle to his plans to conquer new lands; the legionnaires had to be free.
But, despite this ban, Valentine continued to marry all lovers. For such disobedience, he was thrown into prison and later sentenced to death. It turned out that the jailer's daughter and Valentin met and fell in love. While in the cell, he communicated with his passion through notes. And the very last one, just before his execution, he signed “from Valentin”. This version of where Valentine's Day originated is still considered the most plausible. But there are several alternative options.
The Origins of Valentine's Day - Alternative Versions
According to another version, Valentin, already familiar to us, fell in love with the daughter of the prison warden. Her name was Julia and the girl was blind. On the last day before his execution, Valentin wrote her a letter and put yellow saffron in it. After the girl received the note and took saffron from the envelope, she was healed.
Moreover, several saints were known under the name “Valentine”. One of them was executed in 269, it was a Roman priest. Also famous in his time, Valentin was the bishop of Interamna. This man is known for his healing abilities, but he was executed because he converted the son of the mayor to Christianity.
There is a legend according to which the history of Valentine's Day goes back much deeper and begins all the way back to pagan times. According to this version, this day was originally the holiday of Lupercalia. A day of frank eroticism and abundance, which was dedicated to the patron god of the herds of Faun in Ancient Rome. On this day, it was customary to write notes and put them in a small container. The girls wrote the notes, and the boys took them out: whose note the young man took out, he was supposed to court that girl that day.
How do you spend Valentine's Day?
A small heart-shaped card is rightfully considered an obligatory attribute of this holiday. It is believed that the Duke of Orleans sent the first Valentine's card to his wife while in captivity. Out of melancholy, he began to write messages to his beloved wife, filled with love and confessions.
Today, such postcards have long been sold in every bookstore. There are small and cute ones, and there are huge ones with texts and beautiful poems. The day of love would be incomplete without flowers and sweets. Today it is customary to give roses and chocolate. This is a traditional symbol for lovers.
As for the traditions of celebration, there are many scenarios here. Of course, the most suitable among them consists of flowers, a romantic dinner and walks under the stars, it will always be relevant. But many entertainment venues offer excellent options for young people. For example, on this day many clubs organize themed parties. City authorities sometimes prepare a surprise for their residents and set up a stage on the main street of the city. And many couples try to set their wedding day on this date.
Valentine's Day, which is celebrated annually on February 14, has long been shrouded in various secrets and legends of its origin. Some supporters of Valentine's Day attach a romantic significance to this day, while others regard it only for commercial reasons. However, it is still worth finding out where we can get the origins and history of a well-known date.
History of Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is not only a holiday of romance, love and tenderness. According to various sources, the holiday is shrouded in many legends, and no one knows for sure whether Saint Valentine existed and whether he really gave his beloved a romantic Valentine for the first time.
Priest Valentin
According to one legend, in 269 AD. Roman Emperor Claudius II sought to conquer the whole world, but to carry out expansion he had to gather a strong army. Since the family institution kept men from military service, the emperor issued a decree prohibiting marriage during military service.
However, the young priest Valentin, who was still involved in natural sciences and medicine, did not listen to the orders of Claudius II and married the lovers in secret from everyone. When the emperor found out about this, he sentenced Valentin to death. But while awaiting execution of his death sentence in prison, Valentin fell in love with the jailer’s blind daughter, Julia, and healed her.
Before his execution, he left her a farewell message and signed it “Your Valentine.” It is with this incredible moment and manifestation of love that both the appearance of Valentine's Day and the custom of giving valentines are associated. The priest's head was cut off, and Valentine was later canonized by the Catholic Church. In 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th Valentine's Day.
Inspirer of Christianity Valentine
According to another legend, Valentine's Day originated as a remembrance of the Christian Valentine, who was a true inspiration to others. During the secret wedding of Roman patricians (representatives of the indigenous Roman people), they were all detained.
As a member of the upper class, Valentine could avoid execution, but his servants did not have such a privilege. However, they continued to admire him and conduct secret marriage ceremonies under his protection.
Three Martyrs of Valentine
As reported in other legends and stories, there may have been at least three other men named Valentine who died as martyrs for the Christian faith.
The earliest Roman chronograph of the year 354 says nothing about them, but if you believe the ancient legends, then they all died no later than the year 270.
One of the Valentines was a priest and physician in Rome and died in 269 (the time of Emperor Claudius II). The second Valentine was bishop of Terni (Italy) and died in 197. The two Valentines, who died as martyrs for the Christian faith, were buried in the same cemetery (near the modern Porta del Popolo in Rome, now often called the "St. Valentine's Gate").
Saint Valentine's Gate in Rome
Subsequently, the remains of the first Valentine were kept in one of the churches in Rome, and in 1836 Pope Gregory XVI donated the remains to the church in Dublin, where they are still kept. The remains of the second Valentine are today in the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni, the city of his pastorate.
The third Valentine lived in Egypt approximately 100-153. He was a valuable candidate for the position of Bishop of Rome (i.e., Pope) and in his sermons extolled the values of marriage as the embodiment of Christian love. Almost nothing is known about the circumstances of his death and the place of burial.
Pagan roots
Also, some sources note that Valentine's Day in Christian times replaced the pagan holiday of Lupercalia (in honor of the god Faun, and, according to another version, in honor of the goddess of marriage, the Juno family), which was also once celebrated annually on February 14. This replacement took place in 496 by order of the same Pope Gelasius I.
But there is nothing surprising in such a practice, since the dates for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the Nativity of John Kupala, which fell on the pagan festivals in honor of the winter and summer solstice (around December 25 and July 7, respectively), were chosen according to this principle.
Patron of the mentally ill
In the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Valentine is officially considered not the patron saint of lovers, but the patron saint of people suffering from nervous diseases. That is why icons often depict Valentine in the clothes of a priest or bishop, who heals a young man from epilepsy or mental disorders. Back then, such people were called mentally ill.
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill
According to church tradition, at the grave of St. Valentine, one young man who suffered from epilepsy prayed for a long time and recovered.
The Disappearance of Valentine's Day
As you know, Roman Catholics have 16 Saint Valentines and two Saint Valentines. In 1969, the patron saint of lovers was removed from the calendar of saints due to questionable historical justification. Now on February 14, Roman Catholics celebrate the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, whom Pope John II proclaimed as patron saints of Europe.
Today the UGCC celebrates February 14 as the supper of the Presentation and honoring the memory of the martyr Tryphon. The UOC also honors the memory of the martyr Tryphon, Perpetua, Satire, Satornila and others. It is believed that in Western Europe, Valentine's Day began to be widely celebrated since the 13th century, in the USA - since 1777.
According to the latest information, the relics of the patron saint of lovers, Saint Valentine, have been preserved for three centuries in a row in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region). The authenticity of the relic is allegedly confirmed by a document from the Pope dated 1759. As noted by Fr. Bohdan Dobryansky from the parish in Sambir, Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the Przemysl-Sambir diocese.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region)
The relics of St. Valentine in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region)
The history of Valentine's Day
According to legends, the ancient custom of sending cards to loved ones on Valentine's Day also originated in the Middle Ages. The very first Valentine's card in the world is considered to be a note sent by Duke Charles of Orleans in 1415.
The most romantic holiday occurs in mid-February. For many, it has already become customary to celebrate Valentine's Day; people congratulate each other and exchange small pleasant gifts. Some people even specially mark a wedding or engagement to coincide with Valentine’s Day. But not everyone knows what the history of Valentine's Day is.
Unfortunately, no one can say exactly where exactly the tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day came from. Even the true history of St. Valentine is unknown, since at least three saints bearing this name have been canonized by the Catholic Church. But there is a beautiful legend about the origin of the holiday.
Legend
According to legend, the history of the most romantic holiday dates back to the third century. The formidable emperor of Rome at that time, named Claudius II, dreamed of conquering the whole world. And he didn’t want anything to stop him from achieving his goals.
The Emperor believed that the best warrior is a single warrior, since a married man does not want to fight, but to live in a family and raise his children. Therefore, the emperor issued a decree that categorically forbade legionnaires to marry.
However, the warriors from Claudius's army were not robots, but people. And people tend to fall in love. A priest named Valentin, perfectly understanding the danger threatening him, nevertheless secretly married lovers.
The emperor, having learned that his decree was being grossly violated, became terribly angry. The disgraced priest was captured, imprisoned and sentenced to death. The jailer's young daughter, having learned about Valentin's tragic story, wanted to meet him. An ardent feeling flared up between the young people. But Valentin did not have long to live. In a day before the execution, which fell on February 14, the priest handed his last love note to his beloved.
There is another version of the legend. According to her, the jailer's young daughter was beautiful, but blind. But, having received a farewell note from Valentin, in which he put a sprig of saffron, the girl began to see the light.
Who was Valentin?
Several priests of early Christian times can “claim” the role of the founder of Valentine’s Day. Thus, Valentine could be a Roman priest executed by order of the emperor in 269. But perhaps the title of the most romantic saint deserves the bishop of Interamna, who had the ability to heal the sick. This priest was also executed because, thanks to him, many young people converted to Christianity.
When did the holiday appear?
The day dedicated to Saint Valentine was established in 496 by papal decree of Gelasius I.
However, in the second half of the twentieth century, during reforms in the Catholic Church, Saint Valentine was crossed out from the canonical calendar. Of course, such a fate befell not only Valentine, but also a large number of Roman saints, about whose lives and activities no reliable information has been preserved.
So modern Valentine's Day is an exclusively secular holiday, not a church holiday.
According to the Catholic calendar, February 14 is the day of veneration of Saints Cyril and Methodius. In the Orthodox Church, the day of remembrance of Roman Valentine is present, but it falls on July 19 (new style).
Echoes of paganism
Many Christian holidays are based on pagan festivities. Valentine's Day is no exception. Many believe that the history of the holiday begins much earlier than the advent of Christianity.
During the times of Ancient Rome, the holiday of Lupercalia was extremely popular among young people. It was dedicated to eroticism and fertility. A holiday was held in honor of two deities at once - the goddess of love Juno and the satyr god Faun. This holiday was celebrated in mid-February. This month was the New Year's Eve (the year for the Romans began on the first of March), so at this time it was necessary to take stock and make plans for the next year.
The holiday began at the Capitoline Hill, where animals were sacrificed to Faun, who patronized cattle breeding. Belts were cut from the skin of killed bulls and given to young men. The guys, having previously stripped naked, ran around the city, whipping the girls and women they met with belts. Interestingly, this method of “courtship” did not cause protests among the ladies. Moreover, they willingly exposed their sides and backs, since it was believed that this ritual would make women more fertile and provide them with an easy birth.
The celebration continued the next day. On this day, girls dominated. They put signs with their names in a large vase. And the men had to take out one tablet at a time. That is, a kind of lot was drawn. That girl, whose nameplate the guy was taking out, should become his girlfriend for this year. No one asked the guy’s opinion about whether he liked the girl he would have to court.
A holiday somewhat similar to the ancient Roman Lupercalia, it was also celebrated in Rus' during the pagan period. True, it was celebrated not in February, but at the end of June (according to the old style, if counted according to the new style, then at the beginning of July), and was dedicated to Kupala - the god of fertility and the Sun.
Young boys and girls decorated themselves with flowers, sang songs, danced in circles, and jumped over fires.
These days the holiday is known as Ivan Kupala night, since after the introduction of Christianity this day fell on the day of remembrance of John the Baptist.
Tradition and modernity
The traditions of celebrating Valentine's Day have, of course, changed somewhat over the years. But one thing remained unchanged - the custom of exchanging love notes, which became known as “Valentines.”
The oldest known “Valentine” is a love letter in verse sent by the Duke of Orleans to his young wife from a cell in the Tower of London. This “Valentine” dates back to 1415.
And starting from the mid-18th century, in the countries of Europe and America it became a habit to exchange small tokens of attention and notes with declarations of love. In the twentieth century, homemade “Valentines” were practically replaced by ready-made cards printed in printing houses. But these days it has again become fashionable to give handmade “Valentines”.
At the beginning of the last century, It became fashionable for young people to send their lovers sweet gifts - marzipan. This delicacy was not cheap back then, so it was a very generous gift. Over time, marzipan was replaced by chocolate. And confectioners quickly figured out how to make additional profit and began producing sweets in the shape of hearts.
In Japan Valentine's Day began to be celebrated only in the 30s of the last century. But in the Land of the Rising Sun, special traditions have developed. On this day it is customary to congratulate only men. Girls give their chosen ones purely male accessories (razors, belts, etc.).
Holiday in Russia began to be celebrated in the 90s of the last century. But it has already become incredibly popular; it is celebrated by people of all ages, from kindergarteners to pensioners, because, as you know, love knows no age.
Why did this holiday become a favorite in Russia so quickly? The answer is simple: during a long winter, any person wants more warmth and love. And here comes another reason to remember your loved ones. Therefore, people are happy to exchange pleasant gifts and recognition.
