• 08 Sep, 2024

Why We Celebrate Valentine Day

Why We Celebrate Valentine Day

St. Valentine's Day wasn't declared until February 14th, more than 200 years later. Rome had converted to Christianity by this point, and the Catholic Church was committed to eradicating any last vestiges of pagan beliefs. The Pope declared 14 February to be Saint Valentine's Day, adding this feast day to the Catholic Calendar of Saints, in retaliation for the pagan fertility ritual.

 

Why We Celebrate Valentine Day

Nothing compares to enjoying Valentine's Day. It's a day you feel cherished on, in addition to being an opportunity to show your love. Even though you show your significant other your appreciation all year long, February 14 has evolved into a day on which you can openly show them how much you care with gifts like chocolates, flowers, diamond jewellery, and other items. We've all grown to know and love this yearly custom, but where did the concept for Valentine's Day originate?

Posting her first valentine card, New Orleans, 19th Century Vintage engraving of a girl posting her first valentine card, New Orleans, 19th Century valentines day history stock illustrations

Saint Valentine, from your Valentine  
There are various interpretations regarding the origins of Valentine's Day. The priest Saint Valentine, after whom Valentine's Day was named, is the subject of the most well-known background tale of the day. Claudius II, the Roman emperor, commanded the worship of twelve gods by the Roman populace in the third century. Because Saint Valentine was a devout Christian and would not follow his orders, he was apprehended and given the death penalty.

angel angel illustration valentines day history stock illustrations

Saint Valentine's jailer asked if he could bring his daughter Julia for lessons while he was being held captive. Saint Valentine was a learned man, and the jailer hoped that his blind daughter would gain something from his company. He consented and read her stories about Roman history during his captivity. After hearing Saint Valentine's teachings on religion and the natural world, Julia quickly started to see the world from his perspective. The two were said to have eventually fallen in love, and the night before February 14th, the evening before he passed away, he wrote Julia his farewell letter, signing it "From your Valentine," a phrase that is still in use today.

 

A covert union, Saint Valentine  
In a different telling of the tale, Saint Valentine is said to have defied Claudius II's orders to perform marriage ceremonies for young soldiers, leading to his arrest and execution. The emperor thought that single men were better soldiers than married men with families. He then made the decision to outlaw younger men getting married. Saint Valentine, being the romantic that he is, performed the marriage ceremonies in secret, defying the emperor's orders. Saint Valentine received a death sentence after Claudius II learned of it. After meeting Julia, the daughter of his jailer, he fell in love. Similar to the previous tale, Saint Valentine wrote her a letter the day before he was executed, signing it "From your Valentine."

Passion in  Old French Costumes Passionate man and woman kissing in traditional French costume Maria-Antonietta style.  The photo was taken in Cannes during the iStockalypse. valentines day history stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

 

Magnificent Journeys, Saint Valentine  
In other legends, Saint Valentine attempted to free Christians imprisoned in Rome and was sentenced to death. According to the legend, these inmates received harsh treatment because they disobeyed Claudius II's orders. Saint Valentine, however, would not stand by and watch as his fellow Christians suffered. Saint Valentine was apprehended, imprisoned, and given a death sentence following his attempt to assist prisoners in escaping. Once more, the narrative concludes with Saint Valentine meeting Julia and falling in love before signing his renowned final letter, "From your Valentine." Magnificent Journeys, Saint Valentine, a man of passion and dedication, was revered in Rome as a heroic saint. He fell in love and was given the death penalty due to his compassion for humanity. However, his well-known parting remarks, "From your Valentine," have endured to this day. He is regarded as the patron saint of love today.

Cupid and psyche holding each other flying up Illustration from 19th century. valentines day history stock illustrations

 

When was Valentine's Day Annually Established?  
While the majority of people think that Valentine's Day commemorates Saint Valentine's death on February 14th, others think that Lupercalia, a festival, was superseded by St. Valentine's Day when it was established by the Christian church. This once-pagan event was regarded as a fertility festival honouring Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. Valentine's Day was officially established by Pope Gelasius at the end of the 5th century. But the day didn't start to be connected with romance until the Middle Ages. Valentine's Day cards, or exquisite handwritten love letters, became popular in the 1400s. Before long, lovers devoted the romantic day to their partners. Diamonds are a genuine symbol of love, so giving each other extravagant gifts of them was a common way for infatuated couples to express their affection.

Sacrifice for the God of Love Illustration from 19th century. valentines day history stock illustrations

February is recognised as the month of love today. Although we value our love for one another all year long, Valentine's Day has evolved into a special day set aside to honour that special someone in our lives. Now is the perfect moment to give our spouses gifts they will always treasure as a token of our unwavering love. We express our love for one another with passionate gestures on February 14th, uniting people worldwide. There is no better way to express your love to someone than by giving them a diamond gift they will always cherish.

Man in uniform handing over a flower bouquet to a couple Illustration from 19th century valentines day history stock illustrations