History and Traditions of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14^th. There are a number of legends surrounding this day of romance. Its true origins are shrouded in mystery.

Some believe Valentine was an early Christian who made friends with many children. The Romans imprisoned him because he refused to convert to Roman paganism. The children missed Valentine and passed loving notes to him through the window bars of his cell. During his imprisonment he became friends with the jailer's blind daughter. She was miraculously healed before Valentine was executed on February 14^th. Prior to his death he penned a note signed, 'From Your Valentine' to the girl. That phrase is often included in Valentine's to this day.

Some scholars say that Valentine's Day is in honor of a priest who performed marriages in opposition to a decree from the Roman Emperor Claudius II. The emperor felt marriage made young men weak. So, to ensure he had good soldiers he banned them from marriage. Valentine saw how this ban affected the soldiers and he continued to marry young couples in secret. When Claudius II discovered what Valentine was doing he had him arrested and put in prison. It is said he died on February 14^th.

The ancient Roman festival Lupercalia was celebrated February 15^th. For this festival the names of young girls were written on slips of paper and placed in an urn. The young boys in turn would then draw a girl's name from the pot. Thus the couples were partnered for the duration of the festival. This festival which celebrated fertility involved pagan rituals which Pope Gelasius I strongly disapproved. Therefore, in 496 A.D. he outlawed the festival of Lupercalia. At that time Lupercalia was replaced with the celebration of Saint Valentine.

Valentine's Day is mentioned in some of the early writings. Geoffrey Chaucer spoke of it in The Parliament of Fowls. The poem was written in 1382 in honor of King Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia.

The earliest preserved Valentine was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles was captured by the English during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was being held in the Tower of London following his capture when he wrote a rondeau to his wife. This poem is on display at a British museum in London, England.

Shakespeare speaks of Valentine's Day in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The exact year the comedy was written is unknown, but it is dated somewhere between 1594-1596.

Early Valentine cards were handmade and decorated with real and/or paper lace and ribbons. Some of the traditional symbols on the cards were Cupid, hearts, flowers and doves. Most Valentine cards also had a romantic message or poem. They were sometimes sent anonymously. Valentine's Day cards were first mass produced in the United States by Esther A. Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts around 1847.

On Valentine's Day we give/send cards, poetry or love letters to our sweethearts letting them know how much we appreciate them. An estimated one billion Valentine cards are sent each year. Giving flowers also tops the list on Valentine's Day. The most common flowers given are red roses, but carnations, tulips, orchids, pink or white roses are also acceptable choices. Other popular gifts given on Valentine's day include chocolates, personalized jewelry and teddy bears or heart pillows.

Happy Valentine's Day!