Everyone knows about Valentine's Day, but not everyone knows the history of this much-loved (or much-maligned) holiday.
Valentine's Day is also known as St. Valentine's Day or the Feast of St. Valentine. It was originally a Christian feast day but later became a day associated with love and romance.
But wait, who was St. Valentine? There are many theories here, but the most popular one is that he was a priest of Rome who gave aid and comfort to Christians being persecuted under Roman rule. He was subsequently martyred. Doesn't sound very loving, does it? So then how did it come to be a day dedicated to love and romance, not only in the US, but in various parts of the world?
Around 1400, observations of Valentine's Day as an annual celebration of love started in France, and across Europe, Valentine's Day poetry began popping up in cards and letters. The earliest surviving Valentine was written in the 15th century, from the sad and imprisoned Duke of Orleans to his wife. John Donne, Shakespeare, and Chaucer all referenced Valentine's Day in their writings, so if love and romance are creative inspirations for you, you're in good company!
In modern times, Valentine's Day greetings often take the form of cards or gifts of flowers, wine, or chocolates. It's celebrated among friends, as well as lovers and family members, with an estimated 190 million card sent each year. Even schoolchildren hop on the love vibe, with millions of cards exchanged at schools on Valentine's Day.
The Valentine's cliche (cue an eye roll), "Roses are red, violets are blue" was first published in England in 1784, not as a poem but as a nursery rhyme. Besotted suitors have been (over)using it ever since!
In whatever way you celebrate Valentine's Day, be sure to enjoy the love that surrounds you!
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