February 14: Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

Technically, it’s St. Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day has three possible origins: Lupercalia, the death of Saint Valentine, and the mating habits of birds. In all likeness, it’s a blending of all three.

The Feast of Lupercalia, also known as Februata, was an ancient pagan festival in Rome. Lupercalia honored Lycaeus, the wolf mother of Romulus and Remus (the founders of Rome). Young men and women would pull names, then spend the day enjoying the company of the person whose names they pulled. They were allowed freedom to do whatever they wanted with each other.

Valentine’s Day is named for Saint Valentine or rather a Saint Valentine. The Catholic Church actually recognizes three different saints all named Valentine (or Valentinus), and all of whom were martyred. There are many myths and legends told of these saints, but nothing conclusive. One St. Valentine, known as Valentine of Terni and Valentine of Rome, is the patron saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, epilepsy, against fainting, happy marriages, love, and plague.

Another Saint Valentine was believed to be beheaded on February 14th. Legend tells that during the Roman Empire, Emperor Claudius II (known as Claudius the Cruel) stopped allowing couples to marry. He felt that their hearts belonged to him and the wars he waged and that love and marriage would only cloud their judgment. A priest named Valentine secretly married lovers. He was caught and sentenced to death. While in prison awaiting execution, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. In his final letter to her he signed, “From your Valentine.”

And lastly, there was a medieval belief that birds selected their mates on February 14. People began associating love and marriage with this date with the idea that “every bird chooses a mate this day.”

Today, people give flowers, candy, cards, and jewelry to their sweethearts. A candlelight dinner at home or at a romantic restaurant is also popular. Children and families celebrate too. Children make hearts and valentine crafts in school to bring to their moms and dads, and the family might have a special dinner and celebrate the love that keeps them together.

The number of cards sent on Valentine’s Day places second only to Christmas-New Year cards. Card giving goes back to when English settlers first arrived in the United States. It was against the law to display affection in public. Giving cards was a way to show one’s affection without doing something “illegal” as well as avoiding public ridicule.

Fun Valentine Stats from the U.S. Census Bureau

  • 24.6 pounds of candy per capita was consumed by Americans in 2003; it’s believed a large portion is consumed around Valentines Day. Candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years. In 1997, each American gobbled up more than 27 pounds of candy a year.
  • The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2003 was $52 million for all operations in 36 states, with $100,000 or more in sales. Among all types of cut flowers, roses were second in receipts to lilies ($70 million).
  • There were 28,914 jewelry stores in the United States in 2002. In February 2004, these stores sold $2.4 billion worth of merchandise, a much higher total than in the preceding month or succeeding months.

Valentine’s Day Symbolism

  • Heart: The international symbol of love. Ancient Romans believed the heart contained the soul.
  • Rose: Soft velvety petals and a sweet fragrance, the rose has been used for hundreds of years to reveal secret loves. A red rose is the symbol of true love. A white rose symbolizes pure love, while a pink rose is for innocent or puppy love.
  • Cupid: A cherub who shoots his arrows into people making them fall in love. He is the Roman god of love and desire (Eros in Greek mythology). He fell deeply in love with Psyche (a mortal). They married and had a child named Pleasure.
  • Ring: A never-ending circle symbolizing eternal love.
  • Doves: Doves mate for life. They symbolize loyalty.
  • Candy: “Sweets for the sweet.”

More for Valentines Day:

⇴ image purchased from vecteezy

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