Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday that everyone knows about. It is a day to celebrate the unconditional love of your soulmate. The origin of the holiday, however, does not include the kissy-faces and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate we associate with it today; it is actually a bloody and rather dark story.
The Story of the Roman(tic)s
Men would hit on women by literally hitting them.
Around the time of current Valentine’s Day, between the days of Feb. 13-15, the Romans would celebrate the festival of Lupercalia. Lupercalia is one of the oldest Roman festivals that promotes fertility throughout the city and purges the evil and illness within the city. As a tradition of this festival, the Romans would sacrifice a dog and a goat and would use the hides of the newly slaughtered animals to whip their lovers.
Courtesy: Panther Growls
As shocking as this may be, the women would line up for these drunk men. At the time, they believed that being whipped by the hides would make them fertile. According to history, the men would draw a woman’s name out of a jar and that would be the person they would be coupled up with for these events for the rest of the festival.
The name Valentine’s Day came from the Romans as well. Emperor Claudius II declared that single men made better soldiers over the ones that were distracted by having a family, and so he declared that marriage for young men was illegal. Valentine, a Roman Priest, thought this decree was unlawful and continued to marry young people that were in love. In a furious state, Emperor Claudius II sent out a warrant for his death due to his defiance of the law. Years following these events, the Catholic Church would celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, which would commemorate Valentine himself.
The Legend of St. Valentine
“-Love Your Valentine”
It is suggested that when Valentine was imprisoned, he sent the first “valentine” greeting himself. He fell in love with a young woman that would visit him while he was being held in confinement. The card was supposedly signed, “Your Valentine.” Does that sound familiar? This legend eventually became huge in the Middle Ages and started a tradition of sending your love interest a Valentine’s Day card in the month of February.
Courtesy: clipartfest
Currently Valentine’s Day is a huge business. Back in 2011, Valentine’s Day cards along with other themed merchandise brought in approximately $17.6 billion in sales (NPR). Things such as stuffed animals, Valentine’s Day cards, roses and everything covered in chocolate is being sold on the shelves of stores starting as soon as Jan. 1. Valentine’s Day now commemores the love between two people and the loneliness of the people that are single. The red that used to represent blood now is a red that represents love.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Love,
Your Valentine ;)