The History of Valentine's Day

The celebration of Valentine’s day stemmed from the third-century Roman Saint Valentine. The Catholic Church acknowledges three St. Valentines in their history, all of which are peculiar figures, as scarce information is known about them. There are multiple stories regarding the Saint, a commonality between them being his position as an advocate for love.

The first St. Valentine lived as the patron of lovers, he was a liberator, putting all his efforts towards enabling young couples to wed. This began when Emperor Claudius II halted young men from marrying; influenced by his ruling that unmarried men are better soldiers, due to their social and financial investments in their relationships. The patron defied his monarch by marrying them in secret. When his misconduct was uncovered, Claudius sentenced him to death.

The second story also ends with his beheading, but his crime varies. This St. Valentine resided as a saviour, aiding Christians in their escape from Roman prisons, where he was jailed when his delinquency came to light. During his incarceration, he exchanged letters with the jailor’s daughter, who was his first ‘valentine’. This pure love story ceased when the emperor ordered his death.

A popular theory throughout history involves the Catholic Church attempting to tame the vehement celebration of Lupercalia; a pagan festival celebrated on February 15, in honour of the God of fertility, Lupercus. Romans performed animal sacrifices, ran through the streets nude, and executed violent acts upon each other. The extremity of their gestures lead Pope Gelasius to suppress the festival; allowing his followers to celebrate a milder version, on the date of St. Valentine’s birth.

The Saint was extracted from the General Roman Calendar considering the unclear events of his life, and which exact event led to his commemoration. Whether February 14 is his birth date or death date, the celebration of Valentine’s Day is a tribute to the patron.

Maya Almoataz 11D