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Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but have you ever wondered about the origins of this celebration? The ancient Roman festival 'Lupercalia' is one of the earliest witnesses to the term Valentine's Day. But the celebration did not originate in the way you may imagine.
The event, which took place on February 15, began with the traditional sacrifice of a goat and a hapless dog. And if that wasn't enough to make Cupid's arrows fly, a group of priests, the Luperci, cut a piece of skin from the two animals, touched their foreheads with it and then beat every woman in the proximity with it.
It is said that women hoped to become more fertile that way. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I decided he had had enough and replaced the Lupercalia with St. Valentine. No more sacrifices, only love, in the sense it has been passed down nowadays.
The saints named Valentine
But the facts about Valentine do not end there. Many people think that two saints named Valentine were the inspiration for the celebration. But what if they were the same person? One of them, Valentine, was persecuted by Emperor Claudius II Gothicus after he refused to worship the Roman gods.
While in prison, he signed a letter to a woman whom he allegedly cured of her blindness with the words "from your Valentine". Many say the celebration may have been inspired by his kindness and his love.
During the same period, a priest named Valentine of Terni went against the emperor's orders and secretly married young couples in love. Emperor Gothicus, however, believed that unmarried men were better soldiers.
Nothing to love, less to lose. The story goes that Gothicus had him executed around February 14, 269 AD. Because he died for the 'sin' of contracting marriages, his death is commemorated as a day of love.
Where does the custom of gifts come from?
And then we come to many earthly facts. One thing is for certain: Valentine's Day is big business, accounting for billions of dollars worldwide. Where did this habit come from? One of the first greeting cards to celebrate the day was made in the 16th century. It contained the now iconic question, "Will you be my Valentine?"
In 1847, Esther Howland became one of the first American producers of greeting cards. Richard Cadbury followed with the creation of the first box of chocolates in 1868. Nowadays its celebrated around the world with gifts such as red roses, chocolates, sweets, romantic dates and much more, but it all started with a simple and much more personalized card.
The backlash: Singles Awareness Day
In 2001, a high school student named Dustin Barnes decided to form a group with friends to celebrate being single instead of wallowing in self-pity. They chose February 15 (the day after Valentine's Day) as a form of protest while taking advantage of discounts on chocolate. The acronym SAD (Singles Awareness Day) ironically plays with the English word 'sad', but the holiday celebrates independence and self-love. Today, it has spread worldwide with 'anti-Valentine' parties, evenings with friends and moments of self-care.
Galentine's Day: the party of girlfriends
February 13 marks Galentine's Day, made famous by the TV series 'Parks & Recreation': a day to celebrate female friendships rather than romantic love. Brunch with girlfriends, gifts and celebration of platonic bonds.
Who really invented romantic Valentine's Day?
The credit for having declared Valentine as the patron saint of love goes to Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales, who wrote 'The Parliament of Birds' in the late 14th century and associated Cupid with St. Valentine. Before this poem, Valentine had no particular connection to romantic love.
The high love court of Paris
The High Court of Love was established in Paris on February 14, 1400, to adjudicate adultery, violence and love issues. An institution inspired by the principles of medieval courtly love.
The first 'valentine' 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 "My very sweet Valentine." They are still kept in the British Library.
How people celebrate around the world: the strangest traditions
Japan and South Korea
Women give men chocolate on February 14, and the men return white chocolate on March 14 during 'White Day'. In South Korea, people who get nothing on either day celebrate 'Black Day' on April 14 by eating black noodles.
Brazil
Valentine's Day is celebrated on June 12, in honor of St. Anthony.
Czech Republic
Love is celebrated there on May 1, in honor of Karel Hynek Mácha's romantic poem 'Máj'.
Denmark
There is the tradition of the 'valentinsbrev', anonymous letters in which the sender signs only with dots.
Baci Perugina and Luisa Spagnoli
In 1922, Italian businesswoman Luisa Spagnoli created the Baci Perugina by using leftover hazelnuts and mixing them with chocolate. Her partner Giovanni Buitoni renamed them 'Baci' (kisses in Dutch) and added the famous bills with love phrases in the 1930s.
That way you're just a little more original, right?
(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction/ Picture: Unsplash)