What is Valentine’s Day: What You Should Know (2024)

Valentine’s Day is a popular celebration of love and romance that occurs every year on February 14. It is also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. On this day, people around the world express their affection for their partners, friends, and family members by exchanging cards, gifts, flowers, and chocolates.

But how did this tradition start and what are some of the interesting facts and myths about Valentine’s Day? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you learn more about this special day.

What is the history of Valentine’s Day?

The origin of Valentine’s Day is not very clear, but it is believed to have roots in both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. According to one legend, Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome in the third century AD. He defied the emperor’s order that banned young men from marrying, and secretly performed weddings for Christian couples. He was arrested and sentenced to death for his actions. While in prison, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and wrote her a letter before his execution, signing it “from your Valentine”.He was martyred on February 14, 270 AD.

Another legend says that Valentine was a bishop of Terni, who also suffered martyrdom in Rome on the same day.He was known for healing the blind daughter of a judge and converting many people to Christianity.

Some scholars suggest that Valentine’s Day was created by the Christian church to replace the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February 15.Lupercalia was a fertility festival that involved animal sacrifices, matchmaking, and whipping women with animal skins to make them fertile.

The association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love began in the Middle Ages, when people believed that February 14 was the day when birds started to mate.The idea of sending love messages and gifts on this day was influenced by the works of poets like Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare, who wrote about courtly love and Valentine’s Day in their literature.

How is Valentine’s Day celebrated around the world?

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in different ways around the world, depending on the culture and customs of each country. Here are some examples of how people celebrate Valentine’s Day in various regions:

• In the United States, Canada, and many European countries, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate romantic love and friendship. People send cards, flowers, chocolates, and other gifts to their loved ones, and often go out for a romantic dinner or a movie.Some people also propose marriage or renew their vows on this day.
• In Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China, Valentine’s Day is a day when women give chocolates to men, especially to their boyfriends, husbands, or crushes. The chocolates can be store-bought or homemade, and they express the woman’s feelings for the man.A month later, on March 14, which is called White Day, men are expected to return the favor by giving women gifts, such as candies, cookies, jewelry, or flowers.
• In Brazil, Valentine’s Day is not celebrated on February 14, but on June 12, which is the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of marriage and matchmaking, and many people pray to him for finding a partner. On this day, couples exchange gifts, cards, and flowers, and enjoy a romantic night together. Single people also participate in rituals and games to find their soulmates.
• In India, Valentine’s Day is a relatively new phenomenon, and it is often met with resistance from some conservative groups who oppose the Western influence on their culture. However, many young people embrace the idea of celebrating love and romance on this day, and exchange cards, gifts, and flowers with their partners. Some also wear red or pink clothes to show their support for Valentine’s Day.
• In South Africa, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and friendship, and people of all ages and backgrounds join in the festivities. Besides exchanging cards, flowers, and chocolates, some people also follow an ancient Roman tradition of wearing the name of their crush or partner on their sleeve, literally. This is a way of revealing their feelings to the person they like.

What are some of the symbols and traditions of Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day has many symbols and traditions that represent love and romance. Here are some of the most common ones and their meanings:

• Hearts: Hearts are the most universal symbol of Valentine’s Day, as they represent the core of human emotions and the source of life. They are often depicted as red or pink, and sometimes pierced by an arrow, which signifies the power of love to wound or heal.
• Roses: Roses are the most popular flowers to give on Valentine’s Day, as they symbolize beauty, passion, and devotion. Different colors of roses have different meanings, such as red for love, white for purity, yellow for friendship, and pink for admiration.
• Chocolates: Chocolates are the most common edible gifts to give on Valentine’s Day, as they are considered to be aphrodisiacs, or substances that enhance sexual desire. They also contain chemicals that stimulate the brain and produce feelings of pleasure and happiness.
• Cupid: Cupid is the Roman god of love and desire, who is often depicted as a chubby baby with wings and a bow and arrow. He is the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars, the god of war. He shoots his arrows at people to make them fall in love with each other.
• Teddy bears: Teddy bears are soft and cuddly toys that are often given as gifts on Valentine’s Day, especially to children and young women. They represent comfort, security, and affection, and are named after Theodore Roosevelt, the former president of the United States, who once spared the life of a bear cub while hunting.

What are some of the myths and legends about Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day has many myths and legends that add to its charm and mystery. Here are some of the most interesting ones and their origins:

• The X symbol: The X symbol, which is often used to represent a kiss, has its roots in the Middle Ages, when people who could not write their names would sign documents with an X and kiss it to show their sincerity and honesty. This practice later evolved into a gesture of love and affection.
• The love knot: The love knot, which is a design of interlocking loops that have no beginning or end, is a symbol of eternal love and loyalty. It is believed to have originated from the ancient Arabic and Celtic cultures, where it was used as a decorative motif and a magical charm.
• The lovebird: The lovebird, which is a small and colorful parrot, is a symbol of true love and companionship. It is named so because of its tendency to form strong and lasting bonds with its mate, and to stay close to each other at all times. It is also one of the birds that start to mate in mid-February, which is why it is associated with Valentine’s Day.
• The Valentine’s Day Massacre: The Valentine’s Day Massacre, which was a brutal gang war that took place in Chicago in 1929, is one of the darkest events in the history of Valentine’s Day. It involved the murder of seven members of the North Side Gang, who were rivals of the notorious Al Capone, by men dressed as police officers. The massacre was a result of a conflict over the control of the illegal liquor business during the Prohibition era.
• The Valentine’s Day card: The Valentine’s Day card, which is a written or printed message of love and affection, is one of the oldest and most popular traditions of Valentine’s Day. It is said to have originated from the letter that Saint Valentine wrote to the jailer’s daughter before his execution, which he signed as “from your Valentine”. The first printed Valentine’s Day card was made in England in the late 1700s, and the first mass-produced ones were made in the United States in the 1840s.