Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and
gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But
who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history
of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do
know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we
know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient
rite?
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who
served during the third century in Rome .
When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than
those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of
potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied
Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When
Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the
first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that
Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's
daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is
alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an
expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine
legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic,
heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the
Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France . Pope
Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. Later, during
the middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that
February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea
that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance.
In Great
Britain , Valentine's Day began to be
popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the
eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes
to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the
century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in
printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express
their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was
discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the
popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year.