Valentine’s Day is about to arrive, but have you ever wondered what the origins of this holiday are? The ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia is one of the first testimonies of the term Valentine’s Day. But the party is not as you imagine. In fact, it’s probably darker.
The event, which took place on February 15, began with the traditional sacrifice of an unfortunate goat and dog. And if this wasn’t enough to fire Cupid’s arrows, a group of priests called Luperci would cut a piece of the skin of the two animals, touch it to the forehead and then hit it against every woman nearby.
It is said that women hoped to be more fertile. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I finally decided he had enough and replaced the Lupercalia with Valentine’s Day. No more sacrifices, just love, in the meaning that has come up until now.
Saints named Valentine
But the curiosities about Valentine’s Day don’t end there. Many believe that two saints named St. Valentine were the inspiration for the holiday. But what if they were the same person? A Valentinus had been prosecuted by Emperor Claudius II Gothicus after he refused to worship the Roman gods.
While in prison, he signed a letter that read “from Valentine’s Day” to a woman he would cure of blindness. Many said the party could be inspired by his kindness and love.
Around the same time, a priest named San Valentino da Terni went against the emperor’s orders and secretly married young couples in love. Emperor Gothicus, however, also believed that unmarried men were better soldiers.
Nothing to love, less to lose. The story goes that Gothicus executed him on February 14, approximately 269 AD. Because he died for the sin of matchmaking, his death is remembered as a day of love.
Where does the custom of giving gifts come from?
And finally we come to much more earthly things. One thing is certain: Valentine’s Day is a billion-euro business in the world. Where does this custom come from? One of the first greeting cards to celebrate the day was made in the 16th century. It included the now iconic question: “Do you want to be my Valentine?”.
In 1847, Esther Howland became one of America’s first greeting card manufacturers. Richard Cardbury followed with the creation of the first chocolate box in 1868. Today the holiday is celebrated all over the world with gifts that include red roses (a custom that we continue to advise against), chocolates, sweets, romantic dates and much more but it all started from a simple and much more heartfelt card.
The counter-party: Singles Awareness Day
In 2001, a high school student named Dustin Barnes decided to form a band with his friends to celebrate being single instead of feeling sorry for himself. They chose February 15 (the day after Valentine’s Day) as a form of protest, taking advantage of discounts on chocolates. The acronym SAD (Singles Awareness Day) plays ironically on the word “sad”, but the holiday celebrates independence and self-love. Today it is widespread throughout the world with “anti-Valentine” parties, evenings with friends and acts of self-care.
Galentine’s Day: the celebration of friends
Feb. 13 is Galentine’s Day, made famous by the TV series “Parks & Recreation,” a day to celebrate female friendships instead of romantic love. Brunch with friends, gifts and celebration of platonic bonds.
Who really invented romantic Valentine’s Day?
The credit for having consecrated Valentine’s Day as the patron saint of love goes to Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales, who at the end of the 14th century wrote “The Parliament of Birds”, associating Cupid with Valentine’s Day. Before this poem, Valentine’s Day had no particular connection to romantic love.
The high court of love in Paris
In Paris in 1400, on February 14, the High Tribunal of Love was founded which had to decide on betrayals, violence and love issues. An institution inspired by the principles of medieval courtly love.
The first “valentina” in history
The tradition of love letters dates back to the 15th century when Charles of Orleans, a prisoner in the Tower of London, sent letters to his wife calling her “ma tres doulce Valentinée”, still preserved today in the British Library.
How it is celebrated around the world: the strangest traditions
Japan and South Korea
Women give chocolates to men on February 14th, who reciprocate on March 14th with white chocolates on “White Day”. In South Korea, those who receive nothing on both dates celebrate “Black Day” on April 14 by eating black noodles
Brazil
Valentine’s Day is celebrated on June 12, in honor of Saint Anthony
Czech Republic
Love is celebrated on May 1st, in honor of the romantic poem “Máj” by Karel Hynek Mácha
Denmark
There is the tradition of “valentinsbrev”, anonymous letters where the sender signs only with dots
The Kisses Perugina and Luisa Spagnoli
In 1922, Italian entrepreneur Luisa Spagnoli created Baci Perugina using discarded hazelnuts and mixing them with chocolate. It was his partner Giovanni Buitoni who renamed them “Baci”, adding the famous cartouches with love phrases in the 1930s.
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