The History of Valentine's Day
Tamika Hill, Staff Writer
With Valentine's Day behind us and the flowers and chocolates slowly diminishing, we are trying
to recuperate from the financial hole we've dug ourselves into. However, Valentine's Day isn't
about all the flowers, chocolates, or teddy bears that we've come to know and love.
Even though the Valentine's Day we know today only has to do with love and romance, people
are ignorant to the fact that Valentine's Day didn’t include romance until the early 1300s. In the
beginning, Valentine's Day came from a Pagan feast called Lupercalia, in which men would
sacrifice goats, lambs, and cows. This then progressed to the whipping of women with the hides
of the previously mentioned animal. Weren't they so romantic? The Pagans believed, in
layman's terms, that whippings and dead animals led to the miracle of fertility.
I think you'll agree with me that chocolate and flowers are a better alternative.
Even though Valentine's Day got its context from this twisted feast, the name came from a
completely different place. Nobody knows the true origin of the holiday, but one popular theory
for the name was that the holiday was named after a priest named Valentine. Valentine was
imprisoned by King Claudius II, as he was marrying soldiers even though the king has passed a
law forbidding the soldiers to marry due to his theory that unwedded men were the best soldiers.
Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death. While he was in prison, rumor is that Valentine
fell in love with the jailer's daughter. Legend says that on the day of his execution, Valentine
sent a note confessing his love for the daughter signed "From your Valentine." In honor of his
martyrdom, the pope decided to commemorate the day of his death by beginning the holiday we
know as Valentine's Day.
Even though Valentine's Day came from a twisted, bloody event, we still celebrate with hearts
and sweets. Next Valentine's Day, remember Saint Valentine when you're enjoying your flowers
and chocolates.
With Valentine's Day behind us and the flowers and chocolates slowly diminishing, we are trying
to recuperate from the financial hole we've dug ourselves into. However, Valentine's Day isn't
about all the flowers, chocolates, or teddy bears that we've come to know and love.
Even though the Valentine's Day we know today only has to do with love and romance, people
are ignorant to the fact that Valentine's Day didn’t include romance until the early 1300s. In the
beginning, Valentine's Day came from a Pagan feast called Lupercalia, in which men would
sacrifice goats, lambs, and cows. This then progressed to the whipping of women with the hides
of the previously mentioned animal. Weren't they so romantic? The Pagans believed, in
layman's terms, that whippings and dead animals led to the miracle of fertility.
I think you'll agree with me that chocolate and flowers are a better alternative.
Even though Valentine's Day got its context from this twisted feast, the name came from a
completely different place. Nobody knows the true origin of the holiday, but one popular theory
for the name was that the holiday was named after a priest named Valentine. Valentine was
imprisoned by King Claudius II, as he was marrying soldiers even though the king has passed a
law forbidding the soldiers to marry due to his theory that unwedded men were the best soldiers.
Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death. While he was in prison, rumor is that Valentine
fell in love with the jailer's daughter. Legend says that on the day of his execution, Valentine
sent a note confessing his love for the daughter signed "From your Valentine." In honor of his
martyrdom, the pope decided to commemorate the day of his death by beginning the holiday we
know as Valentine's Day.
Even though Valentine's Day came from a twisted, bloody event, we still celebrate with hearts
and sweets. Next Valentine's Day, remember Saint Valentine when you're enjoying your flowers
and chocolates.
