Valentine’s Day has come and gone many and many people were happy to enjoy the day with their loved ones. Where did this holiday originate?
Valentine’s Day has been around for centuries; more specifically, the 8th Gelasian Sacramentary century. This day started to solidify the Feast of Saint Valentine. The Feast of Saint Valentine is a Christian feast day honoring one or more early martyrs. This feast is still celebrated today every year on February 14th. While historically this holiday honored sacrifice, the Middle Ages slowly transitioned Valentine’s Day into what it is today: a romantic and cultural celebration of love.
Valentine’s Day is also connected to a romantic legend often used as the origin. Legend states that Saint Valentine was imprisoned for defying the emperor by aiding persecuted Christians and marrying Christian couples. While in prison, Saint Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and wrote her letters with the signed phrase “From Your Valentine,” which is still used today. This legend is associated with today’s version of Valentine’s Day because it is a more romantic origin than a Christian feast.
Cupid is also a familiar figure to this holiday. The phrase “struck by Cupid’s bow” is a common phrase used to associate couples in love. Through Cupid’s romantic take on love, where did this baby with an arrow come from? Cupid originates from Roman mythology as the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars, the god of war. The name Cupid comes from the Latin language, meaning “to desire”, but he is also known as Amor, meaning “love.” This, however, doesn’t answer why Cupid is a baby. Surprisingly, Cupid was not always depicted as a baby. In Greek mythology, Cupid was known as Eros and was represented as a young, powerful, and handsome man rather than an innocent child. However, during the Roman and Renaissance periods, Cupid was changed to portray a defenseless baby. This was to symbolize the innocence and unpredictable nature of love.
Apart from the background of this holiday, poems dating back to 1415 have been found. Charles d’Orleans, a French royal, has been credited with this poem, which is considered to be the first Valentine poem. It was written for his wife as well as written during the first year of his captivity while being held prisoner in the Tower of London after he was captured by the British during the Battle of Agincourt. Though it’s a romantic take, Charles never had the chance to see his wife again due to her death before his release.
Regardless of the origins, legends, or poems, Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love. Whether it is being celebrated with family, friends, or with a partner, Valentine’s Day is meant to be spent with people you love.
