Yearly on February 14th, the world turns crimson with love—roses, candies, romantic dinners, and heartfelt messages. Individuals have fun love prefer it has all the time been the which means behind Valentine’s Day.
However what if the reality was removed from romantic? The true story behind Valentine’s Day is darker, full of historical rituals, forbidden love, and even loss of life. So, how did it remodel into the day of affection we all know at the moment?
The brutal Roman pageant
Lengthy earlier than Valentine’s Day turned a celebration of affection, the Romans had a really completely different custom in mid-February. It was referred to as Lupercalia, and it was nothing like at the moment’s candlelit dinners.
Throughout this pageant, males would sacrifice animals and use their hides to whip girls, believing it could improve fertility. There was additionally an odd matchmaking custom the place women and men have been randomly paired all through the pageant. This wild and chaotic celebration had nothing to do with real love.
However how did such a brutal occasion develop into linked to romance?
The Legend of Saint Valentine
There are numerous tales about Saint Valentine, however probably the most well-known one is a couple of priest who defied the Roman emperor.
Through the reign of Emperor Claudius II, younger males have been banned from marrying as a result of the emperor believed single males made higher troopers. However Valentine secretly carried out weddings, serving to {couples} who needed to be collectively.
When the emperor found what he was doing, Valentine was arrested and later executed on February 14th, 269 AD. Earlier than his loss of life, he was stated to have written a farewell letter to a younger woman, signing it “Out of your Valentine.” This turned the first-ever Valentine’s message.
From a Tragic Dying to a Romantic Vacation
Valentine’s act of affection and sacrifice was remembered for hundreds of years, however the connection to romance didn’t absolutely kind till the Center Ages. The poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about birds discovering their mates in mid-February, linking the concept of affection to Valentine’s Day for the primary time.
As time went on, individuals began exchanging love letters, and by the 1800s, printed Valentine’s Day playing cards turned well-liked. Quickly, companies noticed the chance to promote candies, flowers, and presents, turning Valentine’s Day into the industrial vacation we all know at the moment.
So, Was Valentine’s Day Ever About Love?
The reality is, Valentine’s Day began with violence, sacrifice, and tragedy—not romance. The love story solely developed over time, formed by poets, writers, and intelligent advertising.
So, the following time you see heart-shaped balloons and overpriced roses, keep in mind: Valentine’s Day wasn’t all the time about love. However over time, we made it that method.
