Valentine's Is Not Saintly

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and everyone knows what that means: gifts, candy, flowers, and sometimes, proposals. Just generalized love in every shape and form one can imagine. Well, that's what it means NOW. Back in the day, the holiday was celebrated differently.

Dark Origins:

The exact origins of this celebration are difficult to pinpoint, but many refer to ancient Rome as a good starting point. From February 13th to the 15th, the Romans celebrated something called Lupercalia. Sounds weird right? Oh, it gets weirder than just the name. The men, often drunk and violent while doing, would sacrifice an animal (dog or goat), skin them, then whip the women with the bloodied hides.

Why on Earth would anyone do this? Well, young women believed that the act would make them fertile, which in turn would make them a better pick as a lover or a wife. Look, I know it's difficult to find love, but to get covered in poor dead animals blood? Nah, that ain't it, Chief.

Once the initial celebration, and subsequent feast are over, a match-making lottery takes place. What happens? The names of young women are written down on cloths, placed inside a jar, then men blindly select them. After a name is drawn, the two are 'coupled' up for for the duration of the festival. Possibly longer, if the match was right for each other.

It should be noted that whether the woman 'wants' to be with the man or not, they are obligated to do so for mating purposes. Also, women didn't have any rights at this point in history, so they didn't have a choice one way or another.

Interestingly enough, the ancient Romans may have created the name for the holiday. On February 14th, on two separate years in the third century, Emperor Claudius II executed two men, whom were both named Valentine. They were martyd and honored by the Catholic church, which gave birth to St. Valentines Day.

Changes to the Holiday:

As time went on, things changed. Pope Gelasius I decided to mix things up by combining St. Valentine's Day with Lupercalia, but expelled all pagan rituals associated with it. The festival became more theatrical and showy compared to its predecessor. Meaning there was more drinking, dancing, where formal or elegant clothing would be worn as opposed to nudity.

By the Middle Ages, the festivals were further romanticized by Chauncer and Shakespeare in their works, and exchanging handmade cards became a key token to show one's affection.

As every tradition eventually does, it made its way over to the New World, where it became a huge hit! Then the Industrial Revolution ushered in factory-made cards in the 19th-century, and in 1913, Hallmark was founded. Since then, the holiday hasn't been the same. In a good way!

Conclusion:

Valentine's Day went from a brutish pagan festival with bizarre rituals to a romanticized festival full of flowers, candy, and handmade cards. Honestly? I prefer it that way. Although, the commercialization of romance can be a bit much sometimes.

It's nice to just sit down with the person you love, give them a tender hug, and tell them how you feel. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Or heck, have a nice intimate dinner for two! Anything is acceptable, so long as it's with your Valentine!

Sources: https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

And random History books!

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