Zane Michalle
Celebrated yearly on February 14th, Valentine’s Day has grown from the cults and Christian customs of ancient times into a somewhat prominent worldwide festival of love and passion. Its past is rich in pagan cults, Christian martyrdom, mediaeval chivalry, and contemporary business.
Ancient Roots: The Festival of Lupercalia
Valentine’s Day has its roots in Lupercalia, an ancient Roman celebration observed on February 15. Celebrated in the spring, Lupercalia was a fertility celebration honouring the Roman god of agriculture Faunus and Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Among the rites were animal sacrifice and lottery-based matching of men and women. Efforts were undertaken to substitute Christian celebrations for pagan events as Christianity grew. Though the precise motivations for this are still unknown, Pope Gelasius I outlawed Lupercalia and instituted February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day in the late 5th century.
The Legend of St. Valentine
St. Valentine’s identity is uncertain, but several stories have helped him to be connected with love and passion. One of them tells us Valentine was a Roman priest who thought unmarried men were better fighters, hence he broke Emperor Claudius II’s ban on young men getting married. Valentine kept arranging covert weddings and was finally put to death for his defiance. Another myth is that Valentine penned a “farewell letter” with the signature “From your Valentine,” which is still used today, after curing the blindness of the jailer’s daughter while incarcerated. St. Valentine was a symbol for passion and love even if his existence was dubious.
Medieval Romanticism and the Birth of Courtly Love
Valentine’s Day’s affinity with romantic love is ascribed to the Middle Ages emergence of this link. In 1382 English author Geoffrey Chaucer penned “Parliament of Fowls,” a poem about birds assembled on St. Valentine’s Day and selecting their partners. Among the first documented links with Valentine’s Day and the mediaeval European literary ideal of love that shows nobility and chivalry—courtly love—the poem is among With the exchange of love trinkets and messages, the concept of showing love and respect on this day become well-liked.
The Evolution of Valentine’s Day Traditions
Valentine’s Day became somewhat well-known in Great Britain by the 17th century. Friends and lovers celebrated the event by passing little symbols of love or letters. Mass-produced greeting cards provided by the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century helped to streamline the process of expressing emotions. The celebration came to represent hearts, doves, and Cupid—the Roman deity of love. Valentine exchanges also reached the United States, where they flourish now.
Valentine’s Day in Contemporary Culture
Celebrated worldwide today, Valentine’s Day crosses religious and cultural boundaries. Apart from the usual gift and card exchange, several nations have created distinctive customs. On February 14th, women in Japan usually offer men chocolates; later, on March 14th, White Day, men return the favour. April 14th is Black Day in South Korea, a day when solitary people gather around and weep over black noodles. With individuals spending billions yearly on eating, gifts, and events, Valentine’s Day’s commercialisation has had a major economic impact.
The Symbolism of Red on Valentine’s Day
The most traditional love colour is red; pink falls far behind. Red is strongly related with courtly or romantic love and St. Valentine’s Day; it is the symbolic colour of the red rose and the heart. Red also spoke to the Hebrews and the Greeks as a sign of love and sacrifice.
Conclusion
From its contentious beginnings to its present global celebration of love, Valentine’s Day has evolved a great distance. Though its beginnings may be controversial and complicated, its ongoing appeal on this day testifies to a common human longing for romance and connection.
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