February 14, lovers and friends exchange letters, chocolates, jewelry in honor of Valentine’s Day. This is a popular day that has become known for its sweet cards and romantic dinner for two. Here are some truly interesting and sometimes dark stories and facts about Valentine’s Day.
History of Valentines Day
Saint Valentines’s Day or Feast of Saint Valentine
The Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on February 14. Valentines Day is a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyr named Saint Valentine. Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.
Through the folk traditions, Saint Valentines Day had become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Valentine’s connected to February 14, one story said the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire.
According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored the sight of the blind daughter of his jailer. Later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love.
An 18th-century legend claimed he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution. Another addition posits that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry.
Saint Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in any country.
According to the legend, “to remind men of God’s love, Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment”, giving them to soldiers ad persecuted Christians, a possible origin of the widespread use of hearts on St. Valentines Day.
Facts about Valentines Day
1. Valentines Day can be traced back from ancient Pagan festival
Historians believed that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of Saint Valentine on February 14. Others believed that the holiday actually has its origins in a pagan fertility festival called “Lupercalia,” which was celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. The day was celebrated by sacrificing animals and smacking women with animal hides, a practice that was believed to encourage fertility.
2. Saint Valentine was not just one person
You may already know that Valentine’s Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine — but there’s actually some confusion surrounding which St. Valentine the holiday technically honors. There are at least two men named Valentine that could’ve inspired the holiday, including one Valentine who was a priest in third-century Rome.
As the story goes, this Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage (he thought it distracted young soldiers), illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death.
Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome and that he actually sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed “From your Valentine.”
3. Valentines Day officially became a holiday associated with love
Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared the date of February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day.” It wasn’t until the Middle Ages, though, that the holiday became associated with love and romance, a tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.
4. Valentines Day Cupid has its roots in Greek mythology
He is the charming cherub that appears on Valentine’s Day cards, often depicted with a bow and arrow, a symbol of Valentine’s Day. The figure can actually be traced all the way back to 700 B.C., to the Greek god of love named Eros, who was actually a handsome, immortal man with the intimidating power to make people fall in love.
It wasn’t until the 4th century BCE that the Romans adopted Eros into the image of a cute little boy with a bow and arrow, naming him “Cupid.” By the turn of the 19th century, Cupid had become linked to Valentine’s Day due to his love-matching powers.
5. Millions of couples get engaged every Valentine’s Day
What better day is there for a marriage proposal than a day literally dedicated to love and romance? Valentine’s Day is one of the popular days to pop the question.
And according to the results of this survey, Valentine’s Day was voted the best day of the year to propose than any other day — and of those people who voted, 40% were men!
6. Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently around the world
Many Latin American countries know the holiday as el día de los enamorados (day of lovers) or día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship). Though couples exchange flowers and chocolate on this day, the holiday’s focus is also directed at showing gratitude to friends!
In Japan, it’s customary for just the women to give confections to the men in their lives, with the quality of the chocolate indicating their true feelings, according to Fortune. On March 14, exactly a month later, the men repay the favor by celebrating the increasingly popular “White Day.”
7. Lovebirds are actual birds
While the term “lovebirds” has become a popular figure of speech, it’s also the common name for the Agapornis bird. This bird is a type of parrot that is native to the continent of Africa and can be found throughout the eastern and southern regions. The animals typically travel in pairs, which is why many couples are referred to as lovebirds.
8. Official Valentine’s Day alternative for singles.
International Quirkyalone Day is a holiday for single people on the same date. The holiday isn’t an anti-Valentine’s Day event, but rather a moment to celebrate self-love and platonic relationships. International Quirkyalone Day has been celebrated globally since 2003.
9. Kids can be the real Valentine’s Day winners.
Valentine’s Day has typically been associated with romantic love and partnership. Interestingly enough, according to a Today show survey that polled 1,500 people, only 59% of spouses planned on giving their partners a gift while 85% of parents planned to give their children something on February 14.
Because Valentines Day is all about love, it gives you the perfect opportunity to create more love in your family.
Diamond Heights Lipa!
JJS Realty and Development Inc. is an established real estate developer known for its vow in building strong modern houses and quality communities for Filipino Families.
Diamond Heights Lipa is the flagship project of JJS Realty and Development Inc. located at Barangay Latag Lipa City Batangas.
Diamond Heights feature Modern-Contemporary houses. Other than this, Diamond Heights is known for its vow to live closer to nature, to breathe fresh air, and be away from urban areas to leap into Mother Nature’s open arms.
Living in a quiet community enjoying Lipa City’s cool climate is a perfect place to raise a family!
“Family and community are at the center of everything we do, we impart that sense of family and community to our homes.”
We all need to be cherished. But despite our good intentions, too often we forget to tell the people we love just how precious they are to us. Valentines Day reminds us to tell all of our loved ones (not only our sweethearts) how glad we are that they’re in our lives.
Family is the center of everything we do, we hope February 14 brings more love into your life and family. Happy Valentines Day!
