Valentine’s Day

Written by: Sitara Nair

Valentine’s Day, also known as the day of love and joy, is a global celebration dedicated to celebrating relationships! This year, the holiday fell on a Friday, and many of you might have noticed the increase in hearts and flowers everywhere. But why do we celebrate Valentine's Day? It’s esteemed such a big deal, but nobody knows the true reason why. 

Some Background

All of the heartfelt gifts and cards are given in the name of St. Valentine, but who is this saint? Well, Valentine's day is regarded as a Catholic holiday, and the Catholic church honors at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were persecuted and killed for their beliefs. Though often morbid, the theories behind the holiday are interesting.

Firstly, many believe that a long time ago, in ancient Rome, there was a kind priest named Valentine. The emperor, Claudius II, believed that single men made better soldiers than those with families, so he made a law that young men couldn’t get married. But Valentine thought this was unfair, so he secretly helped couples get married anyway. When the emperor found out, he punished Valentine by sentencing him to death.

Others believe that another Valentine, a bishop from Terni, is the real inspiration for the holiday. He also stood up for love and was punished by Emperor Claudius II. No matter which Valentine the holiday is named after, their stories are all about kindness, bravery, and love!

Furthermore, you might be wondering when formal cards and messages started appearing, well Valentine’s messages began in the 1500s, with printed cards appearing by the late 1700s. The first commercial valentines in the U.S. were made in the mid-1800s, often featuring Cupid, hearts, and birds, symbolizing love and romance. Traditional gifts include candy and red roses, representing beauty and love.

Who is Cupid?

Well, as February 14th approaches you may be seeing more of this “Cupid” character. He’s often found holding a bow and arrows, and flying around on his white wings, but who is he? Cupid was inspired by Roman/Greek Mythology, as the ancient Romans believed in many gods and goddesses who controlled different parts of their lives. One of these gods was Cupid, the god of love, desire, and attraction. He was the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and was often shown as a young boy with a bow and arrow. According to Roman myths, anyone struck by Cupid’s arrow would instantly fall in love!

But the Romans didn’t actually create Cupid, they borrowed him from the ancient Greeks! Cupid was inspired by Eros, the Greek god of love. Like Cupid, Eros carried a bow and could make people fall in love with his golden arrows. However, he also had leaden arrows that made people dislike each other. His arrows were so powerful that even gods could fall in love!

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romance, it’s also a great time to celebrate friendship and show appreciation for the people who matter most! Do you enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day? Did you treat yourself to any candy?