One of the perks of teaching elementary school is that you are guaranteed several valentines! Long before the end of the day, my desk would be piled high with them: cards, boxes of chocolates, flowers, and even stuffed animals. I loved it! And my students’ desks would be piled high with them as well. Do you remember carefully deciding which card you would give to each classmate? I do; it was such great fun and definitely I can say that everyone felt loved.
I was curious why we celebrate this holiday and especially so when one year, parents from a Middle Eastern country were alarmed to learn that we celebrate Valentine’s Day in our schools. They considered the holiday strictly romantic and did not want their child to participate, at first. I think when they began to see the little valentine cards for children in the stores, they saw the innocence of it and changed their minds. It made me wonder, however, of its origins and whether it truly is a holiday that we should be celebrating in our schools, so I decided to check it out.
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Who is St. Valentine?
It turns out that there are several St. Valentines recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, and that the one we celebrate today is a bit of a mystery as it could be one of two men. Both were romantic martyrs and possibly the same person! The one believed to be behind the holiday is St. Valentine of Rome, the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages. He was a real person who was killed February 14 around the year A.D. 270 for continuing to marry Christian couples in defiance of orders given by the emperor Claudius II who believed men who were single would make better soldiers. According to legend, while in prison, he wrote a letter to the daughter of his jailer, whose sight he may have healed, and signed it, “From your Valentine.”
Why Do We Celebrate St. Valentine’s Day
Many think of Valentine’s Day as a commercial holiday, and definitely, it has become that in many ways. However, Valentine’s Day, predating Hallmark and other greeting card companies, started as a religious holiday that commemorated all of the saints with the name Valentine. Some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th to commemorate the death of St. Valentine of Rome.
Others believe that the Christian church chose February 14th for St. Valentine’s Day to bring Christianity to Lupercalia, a pagan celebration of fertility. Pope Gelasius outlawed this festival at the end of the 5th century, replacing Lupercus, the pagan god of this celebration, with St. Valentine. Instead of the men drawing out the name of a woman to pair up with for the following year, they would draw out the name of a saint to emulate.
Valentine’s Day, however, did not become associated with love until the Middle Ages when Geoffrey Chaucer asserted in his poem, Parliament of Foules, written in 1375, that St. Valentine’s feast day is a celebration of love. Since that had not been the case prior to the poem becoming popular, Chaucer may deserve credit for inventing the holiday.
“For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day
“For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
As the result of the Chaucer poem, aristocrats began writing their own poems to their love interests, called valentines, by the 1400s. And thus began the association of St. Valentine’s Day with love.
Who is Cupid?
Although Cupid may look like a cherub, he is actually a Roman god with roots in Greek mythology. Cupid is Eros, the god of love, who was armed with two kinds of arrows: golden arrows that cause desire and leaden arrows that cause aversion.
The handsome Eros evolved over time into the cute little cherub-like figure of today.
Valentine’s Day Traditions
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Mexico, and many other countries around the world. The traditions vary by country, so below, I only share about American traditions that may or may not be the same elsewhere.
Valentine Cards
Initially people exchanged handwritten love letters and handmade valentines, probably beginning in the early 1700s for Americans. The first mass-produced valentine cards were sold in America in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. She became known as the “Mother of the Valentine” for the fancy cards that she designed. Printed cards replaced handwritten ones by 1847 and now, only more cards are sent at Christmas.
Chocolate and Candy
Chocolate has long since been considered a love food and British chocolatier Richard Cadberry capitalized on its rise in popularity by creating the first heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day chocolates in 1861. The boxes could be used for Valentine’s Day keepsakes after the chocolates were eaten and serve as reminders to buy their chocolate again. Thus began the tradition of giving heart-shaped boxes of chocolates for Valentine’s Day.
Following that came Milton Hershey’s Kisses in 1907, named for the smooching sound the chocolate made during its production, and Russell Stover’s heart-shaped boxes of chocolates in America beginning in 1923.
Other traditional heart-shaped Valentine’s Day candies are Conversation Hearts. Daniel Chase was the first person to print phrases on heart-shaped candies with classics such as: “Be Mine,” “You’re Cute,” and “Hug Me.” Originally shared at weddings, these classic Valentine’s Day candies became popular with children, showing big in elementary classrooms across America over the decades.
Flowers
Since each flower has a specific meaning, you can communicate a message with the flowers you chose to give. Thus was the custom of sending non-verbal messages through bouquets of flowers and the reason flowers — a symbol of fertility, love, and romance — are given as gifts for Valentine’s Day.
Handmade Gifts
Are you a DIYer? If so, check out this Valentine’s Day clipart and these svg files free to create thoughtful handmade gifts your valentine is sure to love!
What are your favorite Valentine’s Day traditions? I would truly have to say…all of the above. 🤗
Until next time,
Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
– Jesus (John 13:34-35 NKJV)
Related posts:
- Why We Celebrate Christmas in December and Other Traditions
- Ways to Bless Your Community
- Ways to Thank Your Hostess
- Fun Brunch Ideas
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Great post. As a catholic and a mom, I’m a little embarrassed to say I didn’t know much about the origin of the holiday. Now I have something to teach my family tonight 🙂
Thank you so much! I am so glad to hear that you will be sharing this with your family! 🥰❤️
These were indeed fun facts 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
You are welcome! Thank you so much! 😊
Very informative
Thank you! 😊