Why will we have fun Valentine’s Day and who was Saint Valentine?

Every Valentine’s Day, tens of millions of People present their companions or family members with flowers, playing cards or sweet as a token of their affections on Feb. 14. However whereas some see it as a commercialized “Hallmark holiday,” the event truly has historical roots in Roman historical past and connections to Saint Valentine.

Valentine’s Day is the proper probability to ask somebody on a date or to cement a long-lasting dedication to a accomplice. It may be a terrific day to put aside time for your self or spend a meal with household and associates.

Another People, although, rail in opposition to a day they really feel is an over-commercialization of affection, or the vacation would possibly make them really feel lonely in the event that they aren’t in a pair.

A 2024 CBS Information/YouGov survey discovered that 68% of People in relationships deliberate on celebrating Valentine’s Day final yr, in contrast with 24% of these not in relationships. Total, about half of People had been anticipated to mark the day. 

Whether or not you love or despise the event, you would possibly discover its deep and ancient-rooted historical past shocking.

Why will we have fun Valentine’s Day? 

Since historical Roman occasions, folks have celebrated a loosely related competition of affection within the second week of February. Nonetheless, the way in which folks categorical their love this time of yr is “conditioned by the historical circumstances they live in,” Yale professor of classics and historical past Noel Lenski advised CBS Information.

For a couple of thousand years, beginning within the fifth century B.C., Romans celebrated a competition on the fifteenth of February referred to as Lupercalia, commemorating the founding of Rome and the fertility god Lupercus.

At the present time was basically a drunken, sexually charged competition on the Palatine Hill in Italy — the place males would sacrifice a canine, and with its cover, would beat younger ladies who needed to be fertile — that lasted till the fifth century C.E. Essentially the most well-known Lupercalia competition occurred a month earlier than Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C. when Caesar famously rejected the crown provided by Roman basic Mark Antony. 

After the Catholic Church turned the dominant energy in Rome, the empire turned extra “buttoned up,” as Professor Lenski characterised it. Pope Gelasius, I ended Rome’s Lupercalia Day within the fifth Century. In the meantime, Christians started to carry a feast on Feb. 14 to have fun Saint Valentine and the sanctity of marriage. Saint Valentine’s feast may have been a alternative for Lupercalia, however Lenski mentioned there’s no exhausting proof of this.

Quite a bit about at the present time could be very mysterious. There’s loads historians don’t know and the place the dots all the time join.

As tradition shifted with time, so did Valentine’s Day and gift-giving started within the 14th century, Lenski mentioned. The vacation grew extra secular as folks of that point appeared to contemplate the day about love, poetry and items.

“Valentine’s Day is characteristic of the place and time,” Lenski mentioned. “It says more about the times than it does about Saint Valentine.”

Who was Saint Valentine? 

Lenski mentioned Saint Valentine is extra legendary than an actual particular person– truly, two folks. Two bishops are related to Saint Valentine and each had been martyrs “who died on behalf of the Christian church in the face of persecution from the Romans,” he mentioned. One of many legends, Lenski mentioned, is {that a} bishop secretly carried out marriage ceremonies and a Pagan emperor of Rome killed him for doing so. 

Father Michael Clark of Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Connecticut disagrees that there have been a number of, legendary Saint Valentines. 

“I have seen his skull with my own eyes,” he mentioned. 

Father Michael mentioned Saint Valentine was one, very actual particular person– or not less than the person that the church honored with a feast was no legend. He mentioned he didn’t know of the key marriage ceremonies, however Valentine’s martyrdom for his faith is what strongly resonated with folks. 

“Martyrdom, the giving up of your life, is uncompromising,” mentioned Father Michael. “We want to think of our love as uncompromising, too.” He mentioned the particular person we love is “someone we’d be prepared to give our all for.” 

The Tune of Solomon 8:6 from the Bible reads, “love is stronger than death.” Father Michael mentioned this quote summarizes why Saint Valentine’s message impacted folks for therefore a few years. Martyrs present those that love transcends one of many few issues that unites us all, being alive.

Whereas Saint Valentine’s feast is not celebrated on Feb. 14 by the church, the celebration of affection within the U.S. has continued. 

Who or what’s Cupid?

Cupid isn’t just a Valentine’s Day gimmick or cartoon character but additionally has its historical past in historical Rome. Cupid comes from the Latin phrase Cupido, which suggests need, and is the kid and assistant of Aphrodite or Venus. Cupid exhibits us that erotic love has been with the human species because the starting, mentioned Lenski.

Love and need, he mentioned, are a endless theme in literature and human experiences. It has all the time mystified folks and we nonetheless don’t perceive it, actually, as we speak. 

How will we have fun Valentine’s Day within the U.S. now? 

Valentine’s Day has turn out to be a serious business vacation within the U.S. and the love, or spending moderately, retains on rising. Based on the Nationwide Retail Federation, shoppers are anticipated to spend a file $27.5 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2025. The most well-liked items are more likely to be sweet, flowers and greeting playing cards, adopted by a night out and jewellery. 

However just like the Romans or the British throughout the late Center Ages, Valentine’s Day is an indication of the occasions for modern-day People, too. 

Life-style knowledgeable Kathy Copcutt advised CBS Information that the wildfires that ravaged the L.A. County space in January are impacting how her neighborhood is celebrating this yr.

Copcutt mentioned she and her 11-year-old are assembly with a bunch of her shut associates and their children for a low-key dinner this yr about “celebrating life.” 

She mentioned Valentine’s Day can be a good way to “step out” of the stresses of every single day and easily collect with the folks you’re keen on.

“I think this year it’s more about being surrounded by your loved ones and friends because, thank God, they all made it,” she mentioned. “Property could be changed, however family and friends can’t. I’m holding all of them shut.

Copcutt mentioned she is asking the celebration with household “Falentine’s Day.” One other fashionable option to have fun is doing a “Galentine’s Day” with associates. Copcutt suggests indulging in a excessive tea, which she mentioned could be very fashionable this yr. 

She additionally emphasised self-love in 2025.

“If you can take any day out and take care of yourself, that’s great. But if you had to choose a day, I would say Valentine’s Day,” she mentioned. ” Don’t be afraid to be alone.” 

Father Michael mentioned that individuals can’t love their neighbor in the event that they don’t love themselves. So he additionally reminds folks to “be good to yourself” on Valentine’s Day and every single day. “You are inherently loveable.” 

Whether or not you’re celebrating along with your children, your accomplice, your self or your mates, do not forget that a celebration of human love has nearly all the time been round and probably the greatest days to indulge in it’s on Valentine’s Day.