14/02/2024
From a raucous Roman festival to Christian martyrs to a medieval celebration of spring, we explore the origins of our most romantic holiday.
Where does the name Valentine come from?
The holiday is aptly named after Saint Valentine, but who exactly was he?
Valentine is likely based on a combination of two Valentines who were executed on February 14 in different years by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century A.C.E., according to NPR. The Catholic Church may have established St. Valentine's Day to honor these two martyrs.
Legend says that one of these men, Saint Valentine of Terni, had officiated weddings for Roman soldiers in secret, going against the emperor's wishes, making him seen to some as a proponent of love.
Another story involves the practice of writing love letters to your valentine. It's said that St. Valentine wrote the first “Valentine” greeting to a young girl he tutored and fell in love with while he was imprisoned for the crimes outlined above. According to The History Channel, before his death, he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine," which remains a commonly used phrase to this day.
But these romantic anecdotes are only legends. So little historical information is known about the martyrs named St. Valentine that in 1969 the Roman Catholic Church removed the feast day from its calendar, though St. Valentine is still recognized as a saint.
Source: https://www.countryliving.com/life/a46353/history-of-valentines-day/