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.
Almost everyone will celebrate Valentine's Day. After all, this is a holiday of love that the whole world knows about. Although the traditions of Valentine's Day may differ in some countries, its meaning and main purpose are always the same. At first glance, it may seem that this story of Valentine's Day is completely uninteresting and reading this article is pointless. But this is not at all true, because the number of legends about the origin of the celebration and everything connected with them is quite surprising.
By the way, we have already written about how to make a gift with your own hands not on Valentine’s Day.
How Valentine's Day came to be, read further in our material.
If you don’t dig too hard, you can find literally 2-3 legends about the origin of Valentine’s Day. Despite the fact that they are the most common, not everyone has even heard of their existence. Read more about it.
Valentine's Day: history of the holiday
According to one of the ancient legends, biblical by the way, Valentine's Day appeared around the 5th century AD. But the events that served as the foundation of Valentine's Day happened even earlier.
In the 3rd century, Rome was ruled by Emperor Claudius, who, like his predecessors, sought to conquer the whole world. Of course, he didn’t have enough army for this, so he issued an order that will seem too cruel now.
Claudius forbade all priests from marrying young couples, and people under 20 from having children. At that time, this was often done even earlier. Despite all these prohibitions and the fear of execution, a young priest named Valentin secretly married young people at night. Of course, everything secret becomes clear at some point, and this case was no exception.
Valentin was caught and sentenced to death. He spent some time in prison, awaiting execution of the sentence. And during this time he managed to meet the young daughter of the prison guard, whose name was Yulia. The girl was blind, so she could not see her lover. Before the execution, the young priest left the girl a note on which was written “Your Valentine,” and it was thanks to this that the girl was healed and began to see again.
They decided to canonize Valentine only two hundred years later. in 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 (the priest's birthday) as St. Valentine's Day.
According to another legend, Valentine's Day arose as a memory of the Roman patrician Valentine. Despite his high position, he was a secret Christian and converted all his servants to the new faith and sometimes performed weddings.
He was caught once, right during the trial. Of course, thanks to his status, Valentin could avoid execution, but the other two could not. Valentin tried to somehow reduce their suffering and began to send them hearts that symbolized Christian love. A blind girl was supposed to deliver them.
On the eve of his execution, Valentin managed to persuade the guards to take his life in exchange for those who were to be executed. The last thing he managed to do in life was to give the blind girl a letter that was consecrated. And thanks to him, the girl regained her sight.
See how Valentine's Day came to be
These are the two legends of the origin of Valentine's Day 2018. They are, of course, very similar and do not look like the truth. But many people believe it.
How Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world
If we already know the date and history of the holiday, then let’s understand a little about the traditions of the holiday, because they differ slightly in different countries.
Read what you can cook on Valentine's Day.
It must be said right away that Valentine’s Day appeared relatively recently in Ukraine, although it almost instantly became incredibly popular.
But in the rest of Europe, Valentine's Day has been celebrated since the 18th century.
Let's remember how Valentine's Day is celebrated in our country. Of course, there are a huge number of couples in love that you can meet in any restaurant, almost all stores have huge promotions, because you need to buy gifts for the holiday. Almost every child who studies in elementary school brings a pre-prepared Valentine there. And some even host holiday concerts.
But in other countries everything is a little different from the conventional Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa. And let's find out why.
In England, for example, valentines are sent not only to loved ones, but also to all relatives, friends, acquaintances and even pets. By the way, there is also a rather interesting tradition for unmarried girls. It is believed that they should get up at dawn and look out the window. The first man they see will be their betrothed.
And of course, we can’t help but mention Valentine’s Day in Germany. After all, many have probably heard that February 14 is not celebrated there as Valentine’s Day, but as the Day of the Mentally Ill. And it is true. But only opponents of St. Valentine think so, and there are many times fewer of them than couples in love.
In France, only jewelry should be given on Valentine's Day.
But in Denmark, people send dried white flowers to each other.
But Saudi Arabia, as always, distinguished itself. There, Valentine's Day is completely prohibited, and if you celebrate it, you can get a rather large fine.
But the traditions of the holiday in Italy are quite different from other countries. There, Valentine's Day is called the day of sweets, and you yourself understand how it is celebrated.
Find out how the world celebrates Valentine's Day
As you can see, there is a lot of interesting things here and Valentine’s Day is indeed celebrated almost all over the world. Let's take a look at the history of its origins and find out how and when Valentine's Day actually appeared.
When did Valentine's Day begin?
If we have already talked about the legends of the holiday, because it is difficult to name biblical stories in any other way, now it’s time to remember the real historical facts that could serve as the foundation of St. Valentine’s Day.
Very often, the origin of Valentine's Day is associated with the ancient Roman holiday of Lupercalia. This celebration was celebrated in honor of the goddess of “feverish” love Juno Februata and the god Faun.
By the way, information about this holiday is quite contradictory. But historians insist that Lupercalia appeared due to the high mortality rate among children in ancient Rome. Then the city could simply die out. Then there were quite a lot of people who simply could not have children and they were considered cursed.
But the place where, according to legend, the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus was considered sacred. Therefore, once a year, most likely on February 14, grandiose festivities were held there, which were supposed to increase the birth rate in Rome. As a matter of fact, they succeeded in everything. That is why, when Christianity appeared, this holiday could not be canceled for a long time.
It is quite difficult to say exactly what date Lupercalia was celebrated. In 494, Pope Gelasius I tried to ban Lupercalia. But it was quite difficult to do this. Some historians say that this is why Valentine's Day was created. But all that can be said for sure is that Pope Gelasius only put an end to the celebration of Lupercalia in Rome.
Find out more in this video
If now the history of the appearance and origin of the celebration and when it will be approximately clear to us, then now we can talk a little about the symbols and legends of the holiday. After all, they are also quite interesting.
Valentine's Day: legends and symbols of the holiday
Well, if we have more or less figured out the historical factors, and we already roughly understand when and how this holiday appeared, not according to religious beliefs, but according to historical facts, then now we can learn a little about the legends of St. Valentine’s Day.
There are actually only two legends here, which we have already told you about. The only difference is in the name and small nuances. They all appeared in the late Middle Ages in France and England.
Golden Legend tells us the story of Valentin, who was a field doctor and priest (there were many such people at that time). And Emperor Claudius, already familiar to us, decided that men who were not burdened by marriage and children fought many times better. Well, that’s why marriages were prohibited. But our hero, Valentin, being a very kind and believing person, secretly sanctified the marriage at night. Well, the rest of the story is already known, he was caught and killed. By the way, it was thanks to this legend that Pope Gelasius established Valentine's Day.
The second legend has no name, but the main character is also called Valentin. He lived in Rome during pagan times, but was secretly faithful to Christianity. He was quite famous and he had many servants, whom he also converted to the new faith. But one day this was noticed and his servants were sentenced to death. And Valentin’s high rank allowed him to avoid execution. Legend has it that he began sending small heart-shaped cards to the prison to cheer up his servants. But in the end, he managed to agree that he himself would be executed instead of the servants.
Valentines are the main symbols of the holiday. There are two legends about their origin. We have already told you the first: it was precisely those postcards that Valentin sent to his servants that were the first.
Read on for the best Valentine's Day greetings.
And the second legend says that the first symbols of the holiday appeared when Lupercalia was celebrated in ancient Rome. The girls then wrote small notes and threw them into a special trash can, from where the men took them out and then ran to look for the girl. Nowadays, Valentine's Day is, of course, celebrated differently, but the similarities can be seen with the naked eye.
Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day, February 14 - History, traditions and legends.
An interesting story about Valentine's Day for children and adults.
On February 14, Valentine's Day is celebrated - the patron saint of all lovers. This is the most romantic holiday in the world, when everyone confesses their love to each other, gives touching gifts and valentines to their loved ones. For more than eighteen centuries there has been a tradition of celebrating this holiday. Despite the fact that the name of the holiday contains the word “holy,” it has nothing to do with religion, since it is a secular holiday. However, we associate February 14th with St. Valentine.
The history of the holiday Valentine's Day. The story of Valentine's Day. Who is Valentin?
There are a lot of legends and rumors about Valentine's Day. So who is Saint Valentine who presented this holiday as a gift to the whole world?
There is an opinion that in fact there were two Saint Valentines, who were venerated on the same day and died in Ancient Rome in the year 269 (270?). But now no one reliably remembers which of them the holiday was dedicated to. What is known is that one of the saints, a younger one, served in Rome as a preacher and worked as a doctor. During the persecution of Christians by Emperor Claudius, he was executed. Another Valentine, Bishop of Terni, lived near Rome and died a martyr’s death at the hands of the pagans in the same year 269 (270?).
Much in the legends about St. Valentine converges and intertwines, but each of them has some kind of peculiarity that makes it different from the others.
Most versions converge on the first Valentine, who was a preacher and physician and lived in the 3rd century in the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Claudius. A difficult and cruel fate befell him. The fact is that the warrior emperor issued a decree according to which his soldiers could not marry, so that the joys of family life would not distract them from service. Valentin ignored Claudius's ban and married the lovers in secret. For these illegal acts he was captured and imprisoned.
The priest's jailer, having learned that the prisoner, among other things, had the gift of healing, brought his blind daughter to him. Valentin healed the girl, the young people fell in love with each other, but their happiness was not destined to work out - Valentin was executed.
However, the day of his death - February 14 - remained forever in people's memory as a symbol of the all-conquering power of love. It is also symbolic that the date of the execution of Saint Valens coincided with the Roman festivals in honor of the goddess of love Juno. Subsequently, Valentine was buried in Rome (according to other sources, some of his relics are located in his homeland in the city of Terni, and some are in the Church of St. Anthony in Madrid). It is not surprising that they did not forget about Valentine and chose him as the patron saint of all people in love. As a Christian martyr who suffered for the faith, he was canonized by the Catholic Church. In 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th Valentine's Day.
Since then, every year on February 14, people remembered Valentine and organized a Valentine's Day. On this day, girls and boys got together, wrote names on pieces of paper and threw these pieces of paper into a jug, then each pulled out one piece of paper and found out the name of their lover.
How everything really happened, we don’t know and will never know, but one thing is obvious - St. Valentine died in the name of love.
There is another version of the origin of the holiday. According to it, Valentine's Day originated from the Roman holiday of Lupercalia, celebrated in honor of the god Faun (Lupercus), the patron saint of flocks. The celebration took place annually on February 15th. In ancient times, on this day all the Romans stopped what they were doing and started having fun. Over time, the holiday changed, new rituals appeared.
The main task that everyone had to accomplish on this day was to find their soul mate. So after the end of the holiday, a large number of new families were created.
Traditions of celebrating Valentine's Day in different countries
Over time, Valentine's Day acquired its own rituals, some of which have survived to this day. In each country, the traditions were different, although what was common and unchanged for all peoples and times was that it is very popular to arrange weddings and get married on this day.
Some beliefs also say that on this holiday, a woman can approach a man dear to her and politely ask him to marry her. If the young man is not yet ready to take such a decisive step, then he should politely thank for the honor and give the woman a silk dress, and buy himself a silk cord with a heart strung on it.
In other countries, the tradition of donating clothes is somewhat modified. Thus, lovers give clothes to unmarried women as gifts. If a girl accepts and leaves a gift, it means she agrees to marry this person.
At different times in different countries there were different beliefs. For example, the first man a girl meets on this day should be her Valentine, regardless of his wishes.
Some people believed that if a girl saw a robin on Valentine's Day, then her husband would be a sailor; if she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man, but be happy with him; and if she saw a goldfinch, she would become the wife of a millionaire.
Valentine's Day in England
In medieval England, this custom was popular: several guys got together, wrote the names of girls on pieces of paper, put them in a hat and drew lots. The girl whose name fell to the young man became his “Valentina” for a year, and he became her “Valentine”.
“Valentine” had to treat his “Valentine” in a special way: compose sonnets in her honor, play the lute, and was also obliged to accompany the girl everywhere; in a word, behave like a real knight.
There was a tradition of dressing children up as adults. Having been reincarnated in this way, the children went from house to house and sang songs about St. Valentine.
Nowadays, the British understand love somewhat differently; this concept has expanded, since Valentine's Day is congratulated not only on people, but also on beloved animals, for example, horses or dogs.
In Wales, on February 14, in the old days, wooden “love spoons” were carved, which they then gave to their loved ones. The spoons were decorated with various hearts, keys and keyholes, which said: “you have found the way to my heart.”
Valentine's Day in America
The Americans also had their own traditions. At the beginning of the 19th century, on Valentine's Day, they sent marzipan products to their brides. However, the treat included sugar, which was very expensive in those days. This custom became truly widespread after sugar beets began to be processed in 1800. The Americans urgently set up caramel production on the continent and began scratching words corresponding to the holiday onto the sweets. Caramels were made in red and white, since red symbolized passion, and white symbolized the purity of love. In the 50s of the 19th century, sweets began to be placed in heart-shaped cardboard boxes.
Valentine's Day in Japan
In Japan, Valentine's Day began to be celebrated in the 1930s. This tradition did not start on its own, but at the instigation of one large company engaged in the production of chocolate. Chocolate, by the way, is still the most common gift on this day.
Nowadays, the Japanese have turned this holiday into “March 8 for men.” On this day, gifts in Japan are received mainly by representatives of the stronger sex. And, accordingly, it is customary to give various men’s accessories; razors, lotions, brushes, etc.
And on this day, the residents of Japan hold an event called “The Loudest Love Confession” - boys and girls climb onto the platform and take turns shouting love confessions with all their might.
How Valentine's Day is celebrated in other countries
The French customarily give jewelry as a gift on Valentine's Day. And the romantic French were the first to introduce “Valentines” as love letters and quatrains.
Balanced and calm Poles prefer to visit on this day
Poznan metropolis, where, according to legend, the relics of St. Valentine rest, and above the main altar is his miraculous icon. The Poles believe that if you pray to the image, it will definitely help you in your love affairs.
In Italy, Valentine's Day is celebrated very differently. Men of this country consider it their duty to present their beloved with gifts, mainly sweets, on this holiday. This is most likely why in Italy this day is called “sweet”.
Conservative Germans adhere to the point of view that Valentine is the patron saint of the mentally ill, so on this day they decorate psychiatric hospitals with scarlet ribbons and hold special services in chapels.
Valentina? Love is in the air and people are confessing their feelings. To do this, you don’t even need to utter words, you can say everything with an eloquent look, and you will undoubtedly be understood. Romance, flowers, gifts, heart-shaped sweets and glowing loving eyes... Do you know where and when Valentine's Day came to us?
history of the holiday
This holiday has existed for a very long time - more than 1500 years. So, on February 14, Valentine's Day began to be celebrated in Europe somewhere in the 13th century. America joined the celebrations in 1777. The countries of the former Soviet Union discovered Valentine's Day only in the early 90s.
So, whose holiday is this and why is it called that?
This story begins in the year 269 in the Roman Empire. Then the state was ruled by the stern Emperor Claudius II. And the main goal of the Empire was to conquer lands. The sovereign military leader was faced with the problem of a shortage of soldiers in the army for military campaigns. And Claudius II found an explanation for this - marriages. The Emperor came to the conclusion that the legionnaires, who had wives and children waiting at home, were less interested in the victories of their Motherland. Why should they think about conquests when they need to take care of feeding their families? And Claudius II found what he thought was a wonderful way out: he issued a decree prohibiting marriages. In this way he tried to maintain the soldier's morale.
However, the ban on starting a family could not stop men from falling in love. And, fortunately for the legionnaires, there was a person in the empire who supported them. It was a Christian priest from the city of Terni - Valentin. Despite the strict prohibition of the emperor, he secretly held wedding ceremonies of legionnaires with their lovers in his church. Probably, Valentin was a real romantic, since he not only united people in marriage, but also assisted the lovers in every possible way: he helped to compose tender messages and gave flowers on behalf of the legionnaires to the objects of their passion.
Of course, everything came out and became known to the Emperor. And since in the Roman Empire the law was above all else, the activities of the priest were sharply suppressed. Valentin was put behind bars. And soon the emperor signed a decree on the execution of the priest.
Valentin's last days, which he spent in prison, are shrouded in an aura of romance. They say that the daughter of the chief of the guard was in love with him. However, Valentin, who gave an answer to her feelings, could not. On the last night before hanging on February 13, he sent her a letter in which he told her about his feelings. The girl read the message only after her lover was executed.
Saint Valentine
Valentine's Day is named after him. Of course, there is no evidence that everything was exactly as described above. After all, no material evidence of this has survived. But it is obvious that the young Christian priest died in the name of love. And in his short life he was given so much of this feeling: love for a beautiful woman, for God, for the people he helped. He was a wonderful man with a huge soul who strived to do good. It is not surprising that Valentine's Day is named after him.
Later, the Catholic Church considered Valentine a Christian martyr who died for the faith, and recognized him as a saint. And in 496, Pope Gelasius I declared that February 14 was Valentine's Day.
However, with the reform of worship in 1969, St. Valentine was removed from the Catholic liturgical church calendar. They did the same with some other saints, about whose lives there was no reliable information. However, even before that time the church did not particularly approve of the celebration of this day.
Celebrations of love
Valentine's Day is a holiday that has existed for more than 16 centuries. However, already from the 18th century and much earlier, a wide variety of national celebrations of love have been known.
There is a version that the first was the Roman festival of eroticism Lupercalia. It was held in honor of the goddess Februata, who was considered a symbol of “feverish” love. The purpose of this celebration was to find your other half. Therefore, after its end, many new marriages were created.
The day before the Lupercalia holiday, which was held on February 15, the triumph of the Roman goddess of motherhood, marriage and women, Juno, was celebrated. On this day, all unmarried girls had to write and put it in a large urn. And the men - pull out the letter. It was believed that every man had to court the beauty whose ardent and passionate message he received.
In Ancient Greece, the holiday was called Panurgia. It was a festival held in honor of the deity Pan, who was considered the patron of herds, fields and fertility. Pan was depicted as a little merry fellow, playing the pipe and pursuing beautiful nymphs with his love.
All of the above are pagan contributions to Valentine's Day. It is impossible to determine whose holiday served as the basis. Most likely, the pagan traditions of different peoples are reflected in the modern celebration.
Valentine's card
At the end of the 17th century, an English court chronicler wrote that Valentine's Day is a holiday during which lovers can exchange passionate notes, give each other all kinds of gifts, such as rings, candies, gloves, cakes, etc. But there was an important condition: all souvenirs are in the shape of a heart. Whether this was actually the case is unknown, but, most likely, this is where the tradition of sending special messages - Valentines - came from on such a day.
Today this word refers to love letters in the shape of hearts. You can't sign a Valentine's card. The recipient himself must guess who it is from.
On Valentine's Day, people want to show their feelings and tenderness to their significant other. They give roses, symbolizing love, send cute cards, propose. This is a celebration of love all over the world. But each country has its own Valentine's Day traditions.
and Italy
On February 14, both the French and Italians traditionally give flowers and gifts. The difference lies, perhaps, in the choice of the latter.
In France, jewelry is considered the best gift on Valentine's Day. In extreme cases, jewelry will do. The French were the first to come up with original and popular today all over the world congratulations on Valentine's Day - rhymed quatrains. France is the country of love. And its residents live up to this name. February 14 is an abundance of flowers, gifts, pink and declarations of love.
Italian holiday is a sweet day. It is traditional to give your loved ones a sweet treat. Therefore, cakes, sweets, chocolate, yoghurts and other goodies are used.
Love and Germany
What is Valentine's Day in Germany? You will be surprised. But February 14th for the Germans is a holiday for the mentally ill.
On this day, services are held throughout the country where people can pray for the health of mentally ill loved ones, as well as for the repose of Valentine’s soul. Orderlies decorate the wards and corridors of psychiatric hospitals with scarlet ribbons. Therefore, if you see a beautifully decorated building on this day, you should know that this is a “psychiatric hospital.”
But lately, German youth have been striving to imitate the rest of the world. And even if unofficially, it still celebrates the holiday of love. In Germany, a pig is added to the traditional European symbols of celebration. All kinds of figurines in the shape of this animal, chocolates, soft toys and much more are used.
Celebrations in the USA and Canada
Valentine's Day traditions in America are largely similar to those in Europe. But still, the main gift to loved ones on this day is red roses. Statistics showed that in the United States on February 14, 20,000 roses are sold per minute. And more than a million of these beautiful flowers are bought every day!
Children also rejoice on holidays - the script of all school productions and plays. The kids dress up as angels and deliver valentines addressed to both classmates and teachers. By the way, in the USA there are a lot of weddings on this day. The famous city of Las Vegas, located in Nevada, is especially popular.
In Canada, on February 14, a girl can propose to her beloved man. And if he decides to refuse, he will face sanctions: from a fine to imprisonment! This does not apply to those representatives of the stronger sex who have already found their soul mate. But if a man is free and decides to refuse the lady who is in love with him, he will be dragged into prison.
Feast of Love in Britain
True English gentlemen give roses to their ladies. And certainly scarlet. And women who have not yet found their lover prefer to engage in fortune telling. It is believed that if on the morning of February 14 you stand near the window and look at the empty street, the first passerby who appears on the horizon will look like your future husband. If the girl manages to call him, he might even become one.
The English are famous for their quirks. They congratulate not only their significant other, but also their pets. Horses and dogs are especially loved. On February 14, you can buy food in the shape of hearts in pet stores to please your pets.
Love Day in Japan
This holiday in Japan is somewhat similar to our day on February 23rd. Japanese men receive many more gifts on this day than women. Girls present their lovers with wallets, razors and the obligatory Honmei chocolate. Such sweet gifts appeared thanks to the largest confectionery factory with the same name. It is believed that Honmei chocolate can only be given to the most beloved man. So this is a kind of recognition.
In Japan, a competition is held annually on February 14th. Young people rise to a special podium and shout words of love to their girlfriends as much as they can. Of course, a valuable prize awaits the winner.
Love traditions of Denmark and Holland
On this day, holiday parties dedicated to St. Valentine and all lovers are held throughout Denmark. Numerous concerts, game shows, and exhibitions are organized. The whole country is celebrating. The Danes have an interesting tradition. On Valentine's Day, men send a dried flower with which their beloved is associated. This is how girls learn a lot of new things about themselves and about the tastes and fantasies of their chosen ones.
If you really want to get married, you need to go to Holland. There is a tradition there that on February 14, if a girl proposes, she cannot be refused. Of course, it is unlikely to tie a man in marriage against his will. But even if the offer is refused, there is an opportunity to ask the chosen one for a silk dress. Moreover, of any brand and for any price. No man can refuse this. The only condition is that the dress must be red. It is believed that only such an outfit can comfort an outcast woman. So, in any case, the Dutch will not lose money.
Friends Day
In Estonia and Finland it is Friendship Day. Of course, lovers celebrate it too. But the peculiarity of the holiday is that true friends also receive postcards and gifts. This is done so that almost everyone can join the holiday, and not just happy lovers.
One way or another, on this day, as throughout the world, people send valentines, cute little things, gifts, soft toys, sweets and other gifts made in the shape of hearts. Flowers are less popular here, as practical Finns and Estonians prefer material expressions of their feelings of love and friendship.
Ban on love
Iran and Saudi Arabia are the only countries in the world where Valentine's Day is officially banned. The traditions of the holiday are considered harmful and pernicious here, confusing young minds. Saudi Arabia even has a Commission for the Prevention of Sin and the Promotion of Virtue. It was she who issued a decree banning the celebration of Valentine's Day. The commission concluded that "this Western holiday glorifies man's original sin."
Therefore, all shops and supermarkets in the country on February 14 do not have the right to sell flowers, valentines, plush toys and any other attributes of the holiday. And anyone who decides to celebrate this celebration will face a huge fine.
Valentine's Day in Russia
As mentioned above, in Russia Valentine's Day has been celebrated not so long ago. However, many people have already enjoyed the holiday. Especially those who are in love. Russia has already developed its own holiday traditions. This day is perceived as a triumph of joy and love. In all corners of the country, lovers send Valentine cards, present gifts and flowers, arrange romantic evenings by candlelight and dates under the moon.
By the way, Rus' also has its own Valentine's Day. The Orthodox holiday is called Valentine's Day. Russians celebrate it. This holiday is a tribute to the legendary love of Fevronia and Pavel. And in 2008 it was declared official of fidelity and love.
The history of Valentine's Day - who came up with the idea of celebrating Valentine's Day - the history of the holiday
The tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day, came to us from the West. On this day, lovers give each other gifts, tender cards - valentines, and, of course, confess their love. The history of this holiday is interesting.
History of Valentine's Day
First version
There is a wonderful legend about the origin of Valentine's Day. According to this legend, Claudius II, a Roman emperor who ruled in the third century AD, was an ardent opponent of marriage alliances because they prevented his legionaries from conquering countries. Therefore, the emperor issued a decree that prohibited marriage. Priest Valentin, contrary to the decree, still continued to secretly marry the lovers. For this he was thrown into prison, after which he was sentenced to death. The jailer's young daughter, seeing the priest and learning his story, fell in love with him. Valentin reciprocated her feelings. But since it was not possible to see each other, the lovers communicated through correspondence. On February 14, 270, the day of execution, the priest sent his last love note to his beloved, signed “From Valentine.”
Second version
According to another version of the legend of the origin of Valentine's Day, the head of the prison where Valentin was imprisoned for his “criminal” acts accidentally learned about the prisoner’s healing abilities, after which he brought his blind daughter Julia to Valentin. On the terrible day of the execution, Valentin wrote a farewell love note to Julia. Having received it, the girl discovered yellow saffron inside, and an unprecedented miracle happened - she received her sight.
Several early Christian martyr saints are known under the name Valentine. One of them is Valentine, a Roman priest who was executed around 269 AD. Another famous Saint Valentine was the Bishop of Interamna. This saint was famous for his miraculous healings. He was executed for converting the mayor's son to Christianity. Perhaps the legend refers to this particular saint. The romantic holiday of February 14 in memory of the saints was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496.
Already in 1969, after the introduction of a reform of worship, Saint Valentine was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church (along with other Roman saints, information about whose lives is contradictory and unreliable). On February 14, the Catholic Church honors the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius. And the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Presbyter Valentin of Rome on July 6 (19).
Festival of Lupercalia
According to one legend, the roots of Valentine's Day go back to pagan times. Many believe that the “predecessor” of this holiday was the so-called Lupercalia - a festival of abundance and eroticism, which was held in Ancient Rome in honor of the patron god of herds Faun (Luperca) and the goddess of “feverish” love Juno Februata on February 15.
Young girls wrote love notes to boys and put them in a special bowl for drawing lots. The man who took out this note was supposed to be courting the one who wrote it. Interestingly, on this day, men lashed women on the street with whips, which were made from the skin of a sacrificial goat. It was believed that this was supposed to contribute to greater fertility in women, so they were subjected to cruel blows with devotion.
In 494 AD. Pope Gelasius I "moved" the celebration of Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Thus, it coincided with St. Valentine's Day. However, the celebration of Lupercalia soon came to an end.
Mating season in birds
The celebration of Valentine's Day in February is also associated with the beginning of the mating season of birds. It has long been believed that entering into a marriage at this time will make him long and happy.
Pagan holiday “Ivan Kupala”
It is traditionally believed that Valentine's Day came to our country from the West. However, celebrations somewhat similar to the Roman Lupercalia have existed in Rus' since ancient times. So, since ancient times, we have celebrated the famous Kupala Day, which falls on July 7, or more precisely, on the night from the sixth to the seventh of July, or according to the old calendar, on the night from the twenty-third to the twenty-fourth of June. The holiday was dedicated to the summer solstice, as well as to the pagan Slavic sun god Kupala. People celebrated the Sun, the maturity of summer, green mowing. Young people girded themselves with flower bands and put wreaths on their heads. They danced in circles and sang songs. Then, in connection with the adoption of Christianity in Rus', this pagan holiday was replaced by the veneration of the memory of John the Baptist, since the day of the Nativity of John the Baptist coincided with the pagan holiday of Kupala. The name “Ivan Kupala” was assigned to this holiday, as we know it today.
Memory of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom
On July 8 (June 25 according to the old calendar), the Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom - glorious patrons of love and family happiness.
However, on a large scale, February 14 as a celebration of Valentine's Day in the Old World, that is, in Europe, has been celebrated since the 13th century, while in America - since 1777. Valentine's Day is secular (not religious).
We congratulate you on Valentine's Day and wish you simple human happiness, whose name is love! Always give your loved ones charming smiles, and then life will be even brighter!
