Every year on February 14, people celebrate the special occasion of Valentine's Day. They express their love and compassion to those they care about on this
day. Originally observed as a day for love couples, it has expanded over time to include the exchange of gifts, cards, flowers, and candy among family members, friends, and even students.
History of Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day has a complicated history. According to some theories, it is related to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was held around the middle of February and was associated with fertility and the arrival of spring. However, historians contend that there is little proof that Valentine's Day originated from this ancient celebration.
Many Romans were turning to Christianity during Saint Valentine's lifetime, but the pagan Emperor Claudius II imposed severe restrictions on what Christians could and could not do. Claudius enacted a decree prohibiting Roman soldiers from getting married because he thought they should be totally loyal to Rome. In order to establish his reputation as a believer in the value of love, St Valentine started marrying these soldiers in secret Christian weddings.
Valentine's crimes against Claudius eventually led to his exposure and imprisonment. Valentine took care of his fellow inmates and the blind daughter of his jailor when he was imprisoned. According to legend, Valentine healed the girl’s eyesight and sent her a love letter marked "from your Valentine" as his last act before being put to death. Valentine was put to death on February 14, 270.
Valentine’s Day meaning
The feast day of Saint Valentine, an ancient Roman Christian, is associated with this date of February 14. The Catholic Church set his feast day on February 14, and over time, this became the date associated with love and affection.
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Valentine’s Day became truly connected with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries. People began to view February 14 as a day of love because authors like Geoffrey Chaucer described it as a day when birds pick their spouses.
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People in some regions of Europe started exchanging handwritten notes and poetry on Valentine's Day around the 1500s and 1600s. Printed cards gained popularity, particularly in the US and England in the 1700s and 1800s.
Why it is celebrated worldwide
Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated in several nations. People offer cards and gifts to loved ones throughout the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and portions of Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Children frequently exchange Valentine's Day cards in schools, and other nations celebrate this day by sharing traditional meals or poetry.
Valentine's Day includes commercial undertones, with stores selling cards, flowers, and gifts, but many people still view it as an opportunity to express love and gratitude to those they care about.
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