Holiday History
Most everyone thinks of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, flowers, and oversized teddy bears when they hear Valentine’s Day. But most people don’t know the full story behind the day of love.
Valentine’s Day was originally created as a day of remembrance for two early Christian martyrs, Valentine of Terni and Valentine of Rome. Valentine of Rome became more prominently associated with the day and was made a Saint in the Catholic Church. At the time of its beginning, Saint Valentine’s Day had no association with Romantic love.
That is until about 1382, when poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem that referenced Valentine’s Day being the time when “every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” Many people took this as a metaphor for the day when men and women chose their spouse.
From this point on, the day became filled with romance and lost almost all connection to the saints for whom the day was intended. Over the years, lovers began to exchange gifts, including flowers, candies, and cards. And Valentine’s Day evolved into what we know it as today.
Interesting Facts
· Cupid, a popular mythological symbol of Valentine’s Day, first became associated with Valentine’s Day because he was the son of the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus.
· In the middle ages, many people believed that the first unmarried person of the opposite sex that you saw on February 14 would become your spouse.
· Every year, more than one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent out. Christmas is the only holiday that sends more.
· Teachers receive the most Valentines every year. After teachers are children, mothers, wives, and sweethearts.
· About 3% of pet owners give Valentines to their pets.
· Verona, the Italian city where Romeo and Juliet is set, receives about 1,000 letters to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.
· The United States is not the only country that celebrates Valentine’s Day. Other participants include Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, and Italy.