As today is Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share the origins of how the lovey dovey day began. Here’s Veronique Louis-Jacques.
While there are conflicting views on the origin story of Valentine’s Day, the holiday can be dated back to ancient Rome and the fertility feast of Lupercalia. It occurred during Feb. 13- 15 and involved a matchmaking lottery between men and women. But the holiday’s name stems from St. Valentine of Terni. He is said to have gone against Roman emperor Claudius 2nd, secretly marrying Christian couples to spare them from going to war. This is actually why the holiday is associated with love. But because of this, he was executed by the emperor. Legend has it that while in jail, he befriended his jailer’s daughter and addressed a letter with “from your valentine”, allegedly healing her blindness.
But despite it’s dark past, Valentine’s day has become the most wholesome holiday of the year, celebrating love and romance around the world. In Mexico Valentine’s Day is known as “Dia del amor y la Amistad”, or the Day of Love and Friendship, in Spain, as “San Valentin”, in France as “Saint Valentin” and in Portugal, as “Dia dos Namorados” or Lovers Day.
It can be defined with popular love songs (Thinking out loud by Ed Sheeran), romance movies (The Notebook), and tons of flowers and chocolates.
So as you go on to celebrate Valentine’s day, remember to stay safe and spend time with the people you love the most.
For Annenberg Media, I am Veronique Louis-Jacques.