How did the Valentines tradition come about? Valentines Day of course is when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. Where did all this start and why February 14? To answer some of these questions we have to look back in history. Let’s get an idea of how this all started and where traditions came from.
Valentines Tradition History
The actual origin of Valentines Day is a bit murky. After all, it started a long time ago and stories grow and change (something like love itself). Who is this mysterious Saint and what is his story? Well, there is more than one story to tell.
Saint Valentine (of Marriage)
One legend from History tells us that in the third century Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men. This is because he thought single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. Valentine, then, was a Roman priest who secretly married couples; defying this edict. Certainly a story about love and making it everlasting.
Saint Valentine in Prison
A second legend poses that Valentine was killed for helping Christians escape Roman prisons. During his stay in prison people snuck in food to him. One of these was a young woman who brought food and visited him. Furthermore, this legend says that Valentine cured this woman of an ailment. Some said that Valentine cured her of blindness. He presented this woman with the first “valentine” signing it “from your valentine”. This phrase is still, of course, present on valentines cards to this day.
Regardless of the source of history, Valentine is thought of as a heroic and romantic figure. By the Middles ages, Valentine came to be one of the most beloved saints of both England and France. Having said this, however. there has been several saints throughout history named Valentine. But none of them are patron saints of love.
Lupercalia
Laperciala was a Roman festival celebrating fertility. The Romans held this ceremony in mid-February around the ides of Feburary, February 15. According to legend, an order of Roman priests would gather at a sacred cave. It was here where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat. They dipped the hide in blood and gently slapped women and crop fields with the hide. This was a fertility ritual for these women. They paired the women with bachelors for that year. The result of these pairings was often marriage.
Valentines Day came to be in February because of the attempt of the Christian Church to “Christianize” this pagan ritual. Pope Galasius outlawed Lupercalia near the end of the fifth century. In addition, at this point, Pope Galasius made February 14 St. Valentine’s Day.
Nothing is ever black and white though, it seems. While we now celebrate Valentine’s Day in February, in the Middle Ages, Chaucer, in “The Canterbury Tales,” describes the holiday as occurring in May. He includes imagery of springtime, birds (avian mating – which is actually in February), and budding flowers. This is coherent with the fact that it has a link to a Roman holiday centered on fertility.
Valentine’s Day – Valentines Tradition
Valentines greetings were popular as far back as the Middle ages. Valentines started to appear after 1400. The oldest valentine that still exists today is a poem that Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote in 1415. He wrote it to his wife during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. Formal messages, or Valentines, began in the 1500s. By the late 1700s. the use of commercially printed cards began. In the 1840s, Valentine’s Day took off in the U.S. as increased paper production and printing presses lowered costs. Cards came to be more and more decorated with lace and pictures. Go Here to Get the Best Valentines Cards – Best Prices!!
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies – Aristotle
Valentines commonly depict Cupid, the Roman god of love, along with hearts, traditionally, of course, the seat of emotion. Traditional gifts include candies (chocolates especially) and flowers. Naturally red roses too, a symbol of love and beauty.
Today, Valentine’s Day is the second-largest card-sending holiday, after Christmas. Approximately 145 million card are exchanged world wide. Spice up your Valentines Day and get something special for that special somone:
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Love for All – Valentines Tradition
I believe in St Valentine, whoever he is, or at least the symbolism. Even if a real person is not behind this, I like the sentiment of the romance and positive feelings between individuals, especially those special people in your life. Kind gestures and real sincerity are always important between all of us. We all get caught up in our day to day challenges, in ourselves and our problems at times.. Therefore, it’s terrific to have a day set aside to think of others; especially again those closest in our lives. Sometimes we forget to recognize and relate to them their importance to our existence..
Naturally, we should practice this daily, or as much as possible. Especially at this time of writing with the Pandemic, even virtual contact is helpful. Also, going forward as we put COVID behind us, let’s show our love and appreciation for others. Let’s be grateful for all of our blessings!!
Wine and Valentines Tradition
There is nothing more romantic for Valentines’s Day, or for any day for that matter, than adding a glass or two of Fine Wine. Cards, chocolates and flowers are thought of as the typical Valentine’s gifts and they are appreciated. But in my opinion, they don’t hold a candle to the romantic atmosphere created by a glass of wine.
But wait a minute! Did you know how well chocolates and wine pair. They actually have, believe it or not, similarities and synergistic effect when enjoyed together. See how much wine enters the Valentine’s Day picture. Also, see for yourself how wine and chocolates combine and compliment each other so fantastically:
See Here Info on Wine With Chocolate Benefits
So where do you get those special wines to share with that special person?
Get Fine Wine that you can afford. That special someone will appreciate some of the finer things in life during that special day. Actually, you can make Valentines day seem to be all year round by treating them with some of the riches of life. All this and it is easy on the family budget. You can get this wine at 1/4 the price at the store.
(And I would also include that you can Add to the Family Income, something that anyone can do, with Our Community to help you.)
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I sincerely hope that you Enjoy Your Valentine’s Day
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