Valentine's Trippy History

by Weronika Karpio

Valentine's Day is known for love, chocolates, and the famous cupid, but this only dates back to the 14th century, there is an interesting story far beyond that. There are connections between Valentine’s and the ancient Roman festival Lupercali, but that only celebrated the coming of spring, not love. When or why the holiday started is vague, with some connections to a Pope wanting to get rid of the Roman festival or people just celebrating Saint Valentine. The fact that Valentine’s Day actually celebrates a saint's deathday is largely forgotten, but it does make sense in the grand scheme of things, since Saint Valentine is the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages, many do pray to saints to make their specific prayers more likely to happen. Saint Valentine died on February 14 about 270 CE at the hands of the emperor Claudius II Gothicus, and there is a legend that connects to our current traditions, that is that Saint Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer's daughter, whom he had befriended. We do this today when we want to give someone a secret love letter. Another reason this holiday is connected to St. Valentine and love is because he defied the emperor’s ban of marraiges (he thought marraige made men bad soldiers) and secretly married couples. Now, you know the actual reason this day is celebrated, not because people back in the day thought it was a good day to tell their love, but because a person who represents love died on this day remember that when someone gives you flowers.