Valentine’s Day is a widely celebrated holiday all over the world every February 14th. People give each other gifts to celebrate their love. Many buy flowers, chocolate, jewelry, stuffed animals, or other gifts for their significant other. However, very few people actually know the origin of this holiday. There are a large number of theories about the true history of it, all of which are quite interesting.
The first theory started in third century Rome when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for younger men. He did this because he believed that single men made better soldiers. A priest at the time, named Valentine, secretly performed marriages for couples who wanted to get married because he disagreed with the emperor. When Claudius II found out, he put Valentine to death by beheading. It is believed that we celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th because it is rumored to be the day Valentine was killed.
Another theory is that Valentine’s Day is celebrated because of Lupercalia, a festival held in Rome between February 13-15. It was held to celebrate fertility. At the festival, it is said that men and women were paired up by picking names out of a jar and that is who they were supposed to be coupled with until the festival next year, unless they fell in love with this person. This festival also had a gruesome side to it where men also skinned dogs and goats (the animals represented sexuality), sacrificed them, and then whipped women with whips made of the skin.
Valentine's Day started to transition into what we know it now in 17th century Great Britain. People would write love letters to their significant other on this day. Then, during the mid 19th century in the United States, the holiday took a commercial turn. Cards started being sold on this day and then florists, jewelers, and confectioners joined in. Today, around 25 billion dollars are spent each year on Valentine gifts.
The true history of Valentine’s Day is not actually known. Throughout the years, different stories have emerged, as well as different celebrations. Many couples give each other flowers, jewelry, and chocolate. They also make restaurants skyrocket in business for the day. Although we may not know why, we currently know this day as a way to celebrate love (and spend a chunk of money, too).
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