Chocolates, bouquets, gift boxes, cute cards, romantic date nights—name it all! These elements and a bunch of other cute stuff have characterised contemporary Valentine’s Day. But was it all love and romance from the start? How did it even start? Is Valentine’s Day celebrated on the 14th day of February in every country? Read this article to find answers to all these questions and more.
Origin and Evolution of Valentine’s Day
Long before the story became a tale of romantics, the earliest history of Valentine’s Day can be traced to the pagan holiday Lupercalia. This feast, believed to have promoted fertility, had naked Roman priests running through the streets and gently slapping women with blood-soaked whips from sacrificed goats. According to Brittanica, a part of history has it that some of these women are eventually paired with different men “by lottery.”.
The history of the connection of love to Valentine’s Day traces back to ancient Rome, with two main stories starring two different men, both named Valentine, as the main characters. Both men were executed on February 14 in different years by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the Third Century A.D. One tale whispers of a priest named Valentine during the third century AD who defied Emperor Claudius II’s decree prohibiting young men from marrying, believing that single men made better soldiers. Valentine, driven by compassion and love, continued to perform marriages in secret, which was, at the time, a clandestine act of defiance against tyranny.
The other story
The other story speaks of Valentine, imprisoned for falling in love with his jailer’s daughter, whom he tutored (maybe love is a crime, after all). We hear of him sending her letters signed “From your Valentine” before his untimely demise. Both stories, characterised by the spirit of sacrifice, devotion, and enduring love, are believed to have laid the foundation for the celebration we embrace today.
Over the centuries, Valentine’s Day has evolved. In the Middle Ages, Geoffrey Chaucer, the venerable English poet, immortalised February 14th as a day of love in his works “The Parliament of Fowls” and “The Complaint of Mars,” attributing it to the mating season of birds. The exchange of handcrafted cards burgeoned during the 18th century in England, gradually gaining popularity across Europe and North America.
In the United States, Esther A. Howland, hailed as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” revolutionised the English Valentine tradition by mass-producing cute Valentine cards adorned with lace, ribbons, and romantic motifs at cheaper prices. Around the 1910s, an American company known today as Hallmark began distributing its more official “Valentine’s Day cards.” The rest, they say, is history. Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with so much devotion in different corners of the world.
How Do Different Countries Celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Take a look at the various ways different countries celebrate Valentine’s Day.
- The Philippines: Valentine’s Day is celebrated in a unique way in this country. Here, on the 14th of February, the government conducts and sponsors mass weddings for couples who cannot afford to have a wedding ceremony. Banquets, gifts, venues, etc. are all covered by the government.
- Japan: In Japan, there’s somewhat of a twist, if you may call it that. Here, it is customary for women to give their men chocolates. Husbands and serious partners get honmei choco (“true feeling”) chocolates, while acquaintances receive giri choco (“obligation chocolates”). Exactly a month later, on March 14th, men reciprocate the gesture on White Day, showering women with gifts and tokens of affection that have to be at least two or three times what their women spent on chocolate.
- South Korea: Love blossoms in full bloom on Valentine’s Day in South Korea. On February 14th, individuals exchange gifts and chocolates with their partners, friends, and family. However, there’s something for the single people, as April 14th marks Black Day, a day for singles to celebrate (or mourn?) their solitary status with a dish of jajangmyeon (black bean noodles).
- Brazil: In Brazil, Valentine’s Day, known as Dia dos Namorados, is celebrated with exuberance. Couples exchange gifts, share romantic dinners, and partake in lively festivities such as music festivals and dance performances. Although the day is called Lovers’ Day, the activities are not reserved for just couples, as family dinners are common on the day.
- France: Ah, Paris, the renowned City of Love. In France, Valentine’s Day, known as La Saint-Valentin, is a cherished event, marked by romantic dinners, moonlit walks along the Seine, and the exchange of tender sentiments beneath the Eiffel Tower.
Conclusion
In the end, while the grand gestures of romance or extravagant gifts on Valentine’s Day are lovely, including a few simple acts of love and kindness to a random stranger, a struggling parent, or society’s weak and vulnerable can go a long way to illuminate the world on this special day. Have yourself a beautiful Valentine’s Day.
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