Valentines Day History

Valentines Day History : From Ancient Rome to Modern Times

Valentines Day History &

Valentines Day Celebrations Around the World:

A Look at How Different Countries Mark the Holiday

Do you know what are the Myths and Facts behind Valentines Day History?

Discover the origins and evolution of Valentines Day, from ancient Rome to modern celebrations.

Learn about the myths, legends, and traditions that have shaped the holiday.

Valentines Day is around the corner. Stores are already flooded with chocolates, candy hearts and other love symbols.

More than 62% of the Americans celebrate Valentines Day offering greeting cards and flowers. Others, offering candy or other gifts that symbolize Love. Romantic dinners are also preferred by most of the couples. Valentines Day symbols also include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of Cupid.

But Valentines Day is more than just chocolates and flowers. Learn about the rich history behind the holiday, including its roots in ancient rituals and the evolution of its modern traditions.

When is Valentine’s day?

Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th each year.

It is a day to express love and affection to one’s romantic partner.

What is the History behind Valentine’s Day?

The origins of Valentine’s Day are somewhat murky, but it is believed to have roots in both ancient Roman and Christian traditions.

Roman Festival of Lupercalia for Valentines Day History

The history of Valentine’s Day is said to have originated from a Roman festival called Lupercalia.

Lupercalia was a pagan festival celebrated in mid-February, where men would sacrifice goats and dogs, and then use the hides of the animals to whip women. The women would willingly line up to be whipped, as they believed it would increase their fertility.

During the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day.

It was declared a Christian feast day, by Pope Gelasius I, around the year 495.

It is said that the Pope chose February 14th to honor Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who was martyred for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome during a time when marriage was forbidden by the emperor.

Valentines Day History – Middle Ages

Over time, the holiday evolved to become a day for expressing love and affection to one’s romantic partner. It is now celebrated in many countries around the world, with people expressing their love through gifts, such as flowers, chocolates, and cards.

During the Middle Ages, for example, Valentine’s Day was primarily associated with courtly love and chivalry. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became more closely associated with romantic love, and it was during this time that the first Valentine’s Day cards began to be exchanged.

valentines day history
valentines day history

Shakespeare and Chaucer

As the years went on, the holiday grew as well. Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticized it in their work. It gained popularity fast throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. During the Middle Ages, handmade love cards were a must-have on Valentine`s Day.

Valentines Day History – Middle Ages

In recent years, Valentine’s Day has also become a commercial holiday, with businesses creating special promotions and offering discounts on products and services.

With the mass producing of valentines cards in 1913, by Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Valentine`s Day remained February`s Love celebration Day. The holiday  remained associated with Love and Romance.

However, Valentine’s Day is not only limited to romantic love, it is also a day to celebrate friendships and familial love. Some people use this opportunity to show appreciation for their friends and family members.

Valentines Day around the World

valentine's day

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, though the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country.

Not every country that celebrates Valentine`s Day turns to heart-shaped candies to declare love. Some exchange pressed flowers and wooden spoons, others hold a special holiday to celebrate Love.

United States

Valentine’s Day is primarily associated with the exchange of gifts, such as chocolates, flowers, and jewelry, as well as romantic gestures like candlelit dinners and romantic getaways. It’s a popular holiday among the young and adults.

Valentine`s Day in South America

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries in South America, although the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country.

Brazil

Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated and is known as “Dia dos Namorados” (Lover’s Day). People exchange gifts, such as chocolates and flowers, and go out on romantic dates. It is also a popular time for couples to get engaged or married.

Brazilians celebrate Dia dos Namorados, or “Lover`s Day” on June 12th. In addition to the usual gifts as chocolate, flowers, cards, there are also music festivals and performances. In Brazil, people celebrate this day of love by exchanging gifts and sharing dinner with friends and relatives, too.

Argentina

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in a similar way to Brazil. Couples exchange gifts, such as flowers and chocolates, and go out on romantic dates. It’s a popular holiday among the young and adults.

Chile

Valentine’s Day is celebrated with the exchange of gifts, such as flowers and chocolates, and romantic gestures such as candlelit dinners and romantic getaways.

Colombia

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as “Dia del Amor y la Amistad” (Day of Love and Friendship) and it is a popular holiday among young couples. People exchange gifts and go out on romantic dates.

Peru

Valentine’s Day is not traditionally celebrated, but it’s becoming more popular among the young generation, who exchange gifts and go out on romantic dates.

Venezuela

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as “Dia del Amor y la Amistad” (Day of Love and Friendship) similar to Colombia. People exchange gifts and go out on romantic dates.

Overall, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries in South America, but the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country. Some countries have adopted the Western traditions of exchanging gifts and going out for romantic meals, while others have developed their own unique traditions. It’s more popular among the young and adults in many countries.

Valentine`s Day in Europe

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries in Europe, and the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country.

United Kingdom

Valentine’s Day is celebrated primarily by exchanging gifts, such as chocolates, flowers, and cards, and going out for romantic meals.

France

Valentine’s Day is known as “La Saint-Valentin” and it is a popular holiday for couples. Many people will exchange gifts, such as chocolates and flowers, and go out for romantic meals. It is also a tradition to write love letters.

“Drawing for love” or loterie d`amour was a popular event in France for celebrating Valentine`s Day. Men and women would fill houses that faced one another, and then take turns calling out to one another and pairing off. Men who were not satisfied with their match could simply leave a woman and go to another. The women left unmatched gathered afterward for a bonfire.

During the bonfire, women burned pictures of the men who left them, and hurled swears and insults to them. The event became uncontrollable, so the French government banned the feast.

Italy

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as “La Festa degli Innamorati” and it is also a popular holiday for couples. Many people will exchange gifts, and it is also a tradition to send anonymous love notes.

Spain

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as “El Día de San Valentín” and it is a popular holiday for couples. Many people will exchange gifts, such as chocolates and flowers, and go out for romantic meals.

El Día de San Valentín is the Spanish name for Valentine’s Day. It is celebrated in a similar way to the rest of the world – couples and lovers go out for dinner, buy each other fancy gifts, celebrating being in love.

 Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s DayS in Spain?

There are some places in Spain where they have a different date for the ‘Día de los Enamorados’, also known as “Lovers’ Day”

In Barcelona,

the patron saint of the city is St. George, and it is celebrated on the 23rd April each year. Catalonian people celebrate love and …books on this beautiful festival. Around the time of the Sant Jordi festival in Barcelona, the city is traditionally filled with book fairs and people offer books and roses as signs of their affection.

In Valencia,

people celebrate love on the 9th October, during the feast of St Dionysius, or San Dionisio. The symbol of love in this city is a piece of marzipan wrapped in handkerchiefs. Tradition sais that the beloved who receives the gift must keep the handkerchief forever as proof of true love.

You can also celebrate not being in love

Single’s Day is gaining popularity in Spain, as in many other countries around the world. This is a holiday to recognise the joy and pride of being single.  El Día de los Solteros, also known as Single’s Day, is celebrated in Spain, the day before Valentine’s Day, on the 13th of February. Chinese typically celebrate this holiday on 11th November (considering 1 as the symbol of loneliness;; it makes a lot of sense).

Valentines Day Around the World
Valentines Day Around the World

Portugal

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as “Dia de São Valentim” and it is a popular holiday for couples. Many people will exchange gifts such as flowers, chocolates and cards. It is also a tradition to go out for romantic meals or to plan a special activity together.

It’s also common for couples to give each other handmade gifts or love letters expressing their feelings. Many Portuguese people also like to plan romantic trips or weekend getaways to celebrate the occasion.

In addition, it’s a common practice among friends to exchange gifts or messages of love and friendship on Valentine’s Day. It’s a day where people celebrate not only romantic love but also platonic love, and it’s a way of showing gratitude and appreciation for the people in their lives.

Denmark

Older versions of the greeting card came in the form of transparency. When held up to light, depicted the image of a lover handing a gift to his beloved. Another mark of Valentine`s Day in Danemark are white pressed flowers, called Snowdrops.

Germany

Valentine’s Day is not as widely celebrated as in other European countries. However, it is becoming more popular among the young generation and couples will exchange gifts and go out for romantic meals.

Russia

Valentine’s Day is celebrated, but it is not as widely celebrated as in other European countries. Couples exchange gifts and go out on romantic dates.

Overall, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries in Europe, but the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country. In general, it’s a popular holiday for couples and the traditions of exchanging gifts and going out on romantic dates are common in most of the countries in Europe. However, in some countries like Germany and Russia, it’s not as widely celebrated as in other parts of Europe.

Valentine`s Day in Africa

Valentine’s Day is not as widely celebrated in many African countries as it is in Western countries. However, it has become more popular in recent years, particularly among the younger generation.

South Africa

Valentine’s Day is becoming increasingly popular and is celebrated in a similar way to how it is celebrated in the United States and other Western countries. People exchange gifts, such as flowers and chocolates, and go out for romantic meals or other romantic activities.

Nigeria

Valentine’s Day is celebrated primarily by young people and it is becoming more popular. It is celebrated by exchanging gifts and going out on a date. It is also a popular time for couples to get engaged or married.

Kenya

Valentine’s Day is becoming more widely celebrated, especially among the younger generation. Couples exchange gifts and go out on romantic dates.

Ghana

Valentine’s Day is not a traditional holiday and it is not widely celebrated. However, some people, especially the young generation, celebrate it by exchanging gifts and going out on a date.

In other countries in Africa, Valentine’s Day is not widely celebrated. It may be acknowledged by some people, but it is not as popular as it is in other parts of the world.

I love you
I love you

Some African countries have begun to adopt the Western traditions of exchanging gifts and going out for romantic meals, while others have not yet fully embraced the holiday.

Valentine`s Day in Asia

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries in Asia, although the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country.

Japan

Valentine’s Day is celebrated primarily by women, who will give gifts, usually chocolates, to the men in their lives, including romantic partners, friends, and family members. There is also a holiday called White Day, celebrated a month later, when men give gifts to women in return.

South Korea

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in a similar way to Japan. Women give gifts, usually chocolates, to men, and a month later, on White Day, men give gifts to women in return.

China

Valentine’s Day is becoming more popular, but it is not as widely celebrated as in Western countries. Young people usually celebrate it by dating or exchanging gifts.

Philippines

Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated, it is called “Araw ng mga Puso” (Day of Hearts) and is a popular holiday among young couples, who exchange gifts and go on romantic dates.

Even if most of the traditions in Philippines are similar to celebrations in Western countries, there is one tradition that is at least interesting to know about. Thousands of couples share a wedding day on February 14th. Mass wedding ceremonies have gained popularity in the Philippines in recent years, leading hundreds of couples to gather in public areas. And all these, in the name of Love, to get married or renew their vows en masse.

India

Valentine’s Day is celebrated by the young generation, but it is not a traditional holiday. People exchange gifts and go out on a date.

Thailand

Valentine’s Day is not traditionally celebrated. However, it is becoming more popular among the young generation, who exchange gifts and go out on romantic dates.

Overall, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries in Asia, but the ways in which it is celebrated can vary significantly from country to country. Some countries have adopted the Western traditions of exchanging gifts and going out for romantic meals, while others have developed their own unique traditions.

Valentine`s Day in Australia

During the Australian gold rush period, miners who were suddenly rich, were paying lots of money for Australian valentines. These were made of a satin cushion, perfumed and decorated with flowers and colored shells. Also, the bird of paradise was a very expensive and appreciated gift.

I strongly believe that Valentine`s Day should be celebrated like Brazilians do. On this special day, they share the love not only with their current or future partner, but with their dearest family and friends.

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Let`s spread Love to our family and friends, also, starting this year. Love is the simplest and best practice if you want to balance your heart and soul.

In conclusion, Valentine’s Day has a rich history that has evolved over time. It started as a pagan festival, Lupercalia, and then it was replaced by Pope Gelasius I with St. Valentine’s Day to honor Saint Valentine. Now it is celebrated as a day to express love and affection to one’s romantic partner, friends, and family members.

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