History of Valentine's Day

Have you ever wondered how it all started? This treasured tradition of elaborate notes and declarations of love actually has quite the romantic beginnings.

Valentine's Day Facts:

What - Valentine's Day is an annual festivity celebrated on February 14 to celebrate love and affection.

Who - The day was established by Pope Gelasius in 500 AD. When Christianity spread through Rome, he moved the pagan celebration of Lupercalia - a celebration to honor the Roman God of Agriculture and the founders of Rome - to February 14. Lupercalia was celebrated by bringing together young boys and girls who otherwise were strictly separated. On the eve of the festival, the each young man would draw out a girl's name from a jar and was paired with the girl for the duration of Lupercalia. Quite often the couple would fall in love with each other and later marry. The custom lasted for a long time until people felt that the custom was un-Christian and that mates should be chosen by sight, not luck. Thus, February 14 was declared as St. Valentine's Day to honor the martyr Valentine and to end the pagan celebration.

Why - The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was med did not join the army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart priest of Rome, St. Valentine defied Claudius' order and married couples. When he was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14.

While in prison, Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter, who visited him during confinement. Before his death Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his sweetheart from the jail and signed 'From your Valentine'.

And so the tradition began.

History Video

Here is a video that explains the History of Valentine's Day. Brought to you by History.com.

And what would Valentine's Day be without chocolate? Learn about the history of chocolate, and how the delicious treat came to be.

More Valentine's Day Traditions

Although the celebration for lovers began in England and France, the tradition of special expressions of love have spread throughout the entire world! What once consisted only of giving handcrafted valentine's cards has become an array of gift giving, including things such as flowers, jewelry, chocolates, and candy. In fact some cultures have even gone on to extend the holiday by creating subsequent holidays related to Valentine's day.


The Creation of White Day

In Japan, February 14th is not simply a day for expressing feelings of fondness, but it is a day for the women to present their true loves with handmade (or store-bought) chocolate gifts. As a result, in 1978 the National Confectionery Industry Association created an official "answer day" for the men-fold. March 14th has been officially deemed "White Day" - the day when the men return their affection to the women who gave them chocolate one month earlier. Appropriately, this is done through the offering of white chocolate.


The Creation of Black Day

The Koreans have taken the idea of White Day even one step further and have created "Black Day". Black Day is celebrated on April 14th and is a day dedicated to the single people who did not give or receive gifts on Valentine's Day or White Day. On this day, young singles get together and eat jajangmyeon - noodles with a black bean sauce - to celebrate their singledom!