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Valentine’s Day is a unique event that appears on the calendar, a special day for those fortunate enough to be in love. Or maybe it’s a reminder for those not in love, serving as a nudge for the single souls. But we hope that’s not the case for you! We trust that Valentine’s Day, both in the past and present, has been a joyous occasion, whether shared with your spouse, partner, or any loved one. For many, it has indeed been a beautiful celebration.
Across the globe, millions partake in the celebration of Valentine’s Day, exchanging greeting cards, chocolates, flowers, sweet notes, and small tokens of affection for that special someone. But where did these traditions originate? What is the reason behind these acts? And how long has this custom been in existence?
In this list, we’re diving deep into the origins and evolution of Valentine’s Day. What began as a pagan ritual blossomed into a Christian-adjacent celebration, making it a notable event in the calendars of diverse cultures for thousands of years. And of course, in modern times, it has evolved into a commercialized affair. And let's not forget about the chocolate! Did we mention chocolate? Delicious! So, go ahead, grab a candy or two, and join us as we embark on a delightful journey through the history of Valentine’s Day!
10. The Mysterious Pagan Beginnings
The true origins of Valentine’s Day remain somewhat elusive. The celebration has been observed, or at least acknowledged, in various forms for centuries. Many historians now believe that the version of the day we recognize today—or at least the roots of what we have come to know—began as an effort by the Christian community to repurpose a pagan festival known as Lupercalia, which was a popular fertility celebration.
Lupercalia took place annually in early spring and became quite the enduring tradition. Some scholars even recognize it as a combined celebration for Faunus (the Roman god of agriculture) and Romulus and Remus (the legendary founders of Rome).
Regardless of the specifics, Lupercalia was always a well-loved festival. As the Christian faith began to rise to power during the Roman Empire, the Church sought to Christianize the event and align it with a fixed date of February 14, hoping to appeal to the pagan population and encourage their conversion to Christianity.
9. Inspired by a Martyr
The reason St. Valentine’s Day carries the name it does is due to a Christian martyr who died nearly 2,000 years ago while trying to protect love. Valentine was a clergyman—sometimes referred to as a priest, other times a bishop—who opposed the Roman emperor Claudius II’s decree forbidding marriage, believing that love should not be restricted in this way.
Claudius enacted this law after beginning his reign in AD 268, convinced that unmarried men made better soldiers. While he may have had a valid point about the increased aggression single men might bring to the battlefield, his marriage ban didn’t earn him many allies within the Roman Empire. One of the people who most strongly opposed this decree was Valentine.
Valentine thought it was unjust to deny people the right to find love and form partnerships. Determined to defy Claudius’s orders, he secretly performed marriage ceremonies for couples who wished to commit to one another. Eventually, the emperor learned of his actions, and Valentine was executed for defying the Roman emperor’s strict law.
The Catholic Church later canonized Valentine as a saint due to his martyrdom. Saint Valentine’s remains are now laid to rest along the Via Flaminia, the same location where he was buried on February 14, 270, the year after his death. Saint Valentine’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, began to gain popularity as a tradition around the eighth century.
8. But Were There More?
While this story is clear and straightforward, it might not be the only one that shaped the history of Valentine’s Day. In fact, there are several different Saint Valentines in history. Their individual stories likely intertwined over time, creating the version of Saint Valentine’s Day that we recognize today.
Beyond the Valentine who was executed by Claudius II in 269 or 270, numerous other legends have been associated with the theme of love. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia and other religious sources, there are at least three different bishops, priests, or figures whose stories have become linked to the celebration of this love-centric holiday.
The most well-known is, of course, the aforementioned Roman priest who was killed by Claudius II. Another significant figure is a former bishop, officially recognized as the Bishop of Interamna, the modern city of Terni in Italy. This bishop was martyred for his support of love and was also buried along the Via Flaminia outside Rome, just like the earlier Valentine.
There’s even a legend from the Middle Ages about a supposed Patron Saint of Love named Valentine. According to this tale, Valentine was not only the patron saint of lovers but also of beekeepers and those suffering from epilepsy. It’s an unusual combination, but it certainly contributed to shaping the holiday we celebrate today.
7. Chaucer’s Influence on Love
If you’re not particularly fond of Valentine’s Day, you may want to direct your frustration toward Geoffrey Chaucer. Good luck reaching him, though, as he’s been dead for centuries! Chaucer, of course, was the celebrated 14th-century English poet.
Although Geoffrey Chaucer is perhaps best known for writing The Canterbury Tales, he is also credited with transforming Saint Valentine’s Day into a celebration centered on romantic love. Since his influence, we’ve all followed suit with roses, chocolates, heart-shaped candies, and all the other sweet traditions. Ah, those sweet, sentimental, and enduring customs!
As we’ve discovered, Valentine’s Day has a rather dark history, filled with beheadings and martyrdoms. Yet in the 1380s, Chaucer penned a poem titled “The Parliament of Fowls,” in which he described February 14 as a day of love. Even though the day had long been a Catholic feast honoring the martyrdom of Saint Valentine, Chaucer presented it as something more.
Chaucer’s proclamation of Saint Valentine’s Day as a day for love was the first recorded instance of such an idea. While the English may have already practiced this tradition before Chaucer’s writing, he was likely influenced by it. Regardless, his words sparked a widespread celebration, and here we are nearly 700 years later, still honoring the day with affection!
6. History Long Before Hallmark
The first known Valentine’s Day card was likely sent from a prisoner in the notorious Tower of London to his wife in 1415. The sender was Charles, Duke of Orléans, who was only 21 years old at the time. Already married—21 being considered quite advanced in age for the early 15th century—he was imprisoned in the Tower of London when he sent the card.
The tale of the Duke involves a tangled web of royal infighting and imprisonment that goes off on a bit of a tangent here. However, for the sake of today’s discussion, let’s just say that while he was locked up, he managed to send a handwritten Valentine’s Day card to his wife, who was waiting on the other side of the Tower’s sturdy walls.
Unfortunately, the card Charles supposedly sent to his wife in 1415 has not survived the test of time. What we do have, however, is something nearly as ancient: the oldest surviving Valentine’s Day card. This handwritten letter, currently housed in the British Library, contains a Valentine’s Day verse from a woman named Margery Brews to her fiancé, John Paston.
The fact that this letter still exists today speaks volumes about the durability of paper and ink. But it also speaks to Margery’s seemingly eternal affection for John. If she ever told him “I love you forever” in the 15th century, well, it turns out she was absolutely right!
5. The Commercialization Begins
To be fair, it took quite some time between Chaucer and Margery Brews before Valentine’s Day truly became a commercial event. The business aspect of this love-filled holiday began in 18th-century England, when people started creating (or buying) and sending Valentine’s Day cards to their loved ones. These cards were typically sent to romantic partners, but could also be exchanged with friends and family members who were dear to them.
In addition to sending cards, people would often include chocolates and other sweet treats. The wealthier individuals also sent flowers along with their messages. Originating in England, the practice of sending cards and gifts eventually made its way to the United States in the 19th century, where it blossomed into a full-blown business phenomenon.
Today, Valentine’s Day has become a huge financial event for the greeting card industry. According to Hallmark and other companies specializing in heartfelt expressions, around 150 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year. It’s important to note that this number only accounts for cards that are sent through the mail.
This figure excludes the cards that children traditionally give to one another at school and other similar exchanges. With that in mind, Valentine’s Day ranks as the second-largest greeting card holiday worldwide, just behind Christmas. That's a lot of love flowing through the mail system!
4. Roses Are Red…
Even if you don’t know much about Valentine’s Day, and maybe you're destined for a lonely life without romance (how sad!), you’re probably still aware that red roses are closely tied to this day. This association has ancient roots, dating back through history. The link between red roses and Valentine’s Day comes from their connection to Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
In Greek mythology, Venus, also known as Aphrodite, discovered her beloved Adonis fatally wounded one day. Adonis, the handsome god of beauty, was dying. In despair, Venus wept over him, and as her tears fell, they mixed with his blood. The combination of both tears and blood gave rise to a blooming red rose bush.
With the union of the goddess of love and the god of beauty, it’s no surprise that their mythical rose bush has endured for generations. While roses remain the most popular flower for Valentine’s Day, they’re not the only choice. Over the years, less traditional floral arrangements have grown in popularity on this romantic holiday.
Other beloved spring flowers, such as tulips, orchids, and lilies, have become common gifts for those expressing their love and affection. While they don’t carry the same tradition as roses, the vibrant colors and unique displays of these flowers have become an equally appealing alternative to the classic Valentine’s bouquet.
3. Popping the Question!
Since Valentine’s Day celebrates love and relationships, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular days for proposals. Each year, millions of couples choose this special day to get engaged—around six million, to be exact!
Valentine’s Day witnesses around six million couples proposing to each other, making it the ideal moment for a man to express his love and commitment to the woman he envisions a future with. Surveys consistently confirm that both genders regard this special day as the most opportune occasion for a proposal. Isn’t that sweet?
Beyond engagements, Valentine’s Day is synonymous with the trend of love locks. These padlocks, often seen along fences in upscale tourist spots, especially in cities like Paris, are symbols of eternal love. Couples lock a padlock onto a bridge along the Seine River, inscribe their initials on it, and seal their bond. This unique ritual has now spread across the globe.
The love lock serves as a lasting symbol of a couple's unbreakable bond. With no one holding the key, the lock signifies that their love will endure as long as the lock remains secure. This tradition has been cherished for years, with many couples tossing the keys into the river to solidify the permanence of their commitment.
2. A Desire for Chocolate
In 1861, Richard Cadbury, the chocolate mogul, pioneered the creation of the first heart-shaped chocolate box, marketed specifically for Valentine’s Day. Known for his brilliance in marketing, Cadbury’s heart-shaped boxes of sweet indulgences have endured for generations. The iconic Cadbury brand is still loved worldwide today.
Valentine’s Day and chocolate share a unique and deep connection. This relationship took off in the early days of the Civil War when Cadbury introduced a clever marketing strategy. It didn’t take long for Valentine’s Day to transform into the commercial celebration we know today in the United States. Chocolate boxes, from Cadbury and many other brands, became a staple of the holiday, fueling the consumer-driven tradition that persists today.
When we talk about the commercial side of Valentine’s Day, chocolate is a major player. The scale of chocolate sales in the week leading up to February 14th is incredible. Americans purchase about 58 million pounds (26 million kilograms) of chocolate every year in just those seven days. It’s a sweet testament to how deeply ingrained chocolate is in the holiday’s celebrations.
Much like Halloween, Valentine’s Day has evolved into a huge profit-making event for companies like Hershey’s. The amount of chocolate consumed annually during this period, totaling 58 million pounds, is staggering. But what’s the cost to us? Well, in exchange for our sweet indulgence, we often end up with toothaches and a few extra pounds around our waists!
1. Unusual Traditions
While Valentine’s Day in the U.S. follows a similar pattern across the globe, some countries have their own distinctive ways of celebrating. In Japan, for instance, the holiday takes on a unique twist. It’s a day when women give chocolates to men, a tradition that began in 1958 after a Japanese chocolate company encouraged women to express their feelings through chocolate gifts.
Regardless of any skepticism about its commercial roots, the tradition has endured. Today, in Japan, women celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving chocolate to men every year. But it’s not just romantic partners who receive these sweet gifts. Women also present chocolates to male colleagues, bosses, friends, and others as part of the holiday’s widespread celebration.
In South Korea, Valentine’s Day has a unique follow-up: ‘White Day,’ which falls exactly one month later, on March 14th. On this day, the roles are reversed, and women give gifts to the men in their lives, providing a counterpoint to the women-focused love celebrations of February. It’s a fun reversal, with women showing their appreciation in return.
China has its own take on Valentine’s Day. While some regions in China have embraced the Western tradition of celebrating February 14th, the country also observes a completely different event: ‘Singles’ Day.’ Held annually on November 11th, this day is dedicated to celebrating the single life and treating oneself to gifts and indulgences, an occasion to revel in freedom from romantic entanglements.
Singles’ Day has grown into one of the biggest shopping events in China. It’s a day when single individuals spoil themselves with all sorts of treats, basking in the joy of being unattached. The date itself, November 11th (11/11), is significant, with the double digits symbolizing single people celebrating their independence. It’s a playful twist on the typical love-centered holidays.
