The origins of Valentine's Day
Some people wait impatiently to give and receive proof of love, others dread its arrival, which brings melancholy: Valentine's Day puts lovers in the spotlight every February 14 and warms this cold winter day with its sweet words and tender attentions. Couples offer each other cards decorated with open-hearted declarations, flowers, fine chocolates or other gifts and delicacies.
If this holiday is widely celebrated around the world today and carries with it its share of symbols and superstitions, what about its meaning and origins in history? Between Christian roots, pagan festivals and natural phenomena, let's go together on the trail of the origins of Valentine's Day.
But who is this Valentin?
In ancient Rome, around the 3rd century, reigned Claudius II, a tyrannical emperor and warlord known for his heart of stone. Having noticed that married men, eager to stay with their wives and children, were less willing than others to enlist in the army, he decided to forbid all marriage in his empire. Only a priest named Valentine of Terni took the risk of defying these orders and continued to secretly unite lovers in marriage. When the Roman emperor learned of this transgression, he ordered his execution.
According to legend, it was this poor Valentine who lost his life in the name of love and was canonized by the Pope in 498. He is celebrated on February 14, together with 3 other martyr saints named Valentine. It was not until 1496 that Pope Alexander VI officially made Valentine of Terni the patron saint of lovers.
Saint Valentine and Lupercalia: Pagan Origins
It is no coincidence that many Christian festivals have been established on dates that already included other celebrations. The transition from Lupercalia to Valentine's Day perfectly illustrates this phenomenon.
Even before the formation of Rome, a pagan festival called Lupercalia was already celebrated, in honor of the god Faunus. In Roman mythology, Faunus was the god of rural lands (fields, meadows, forests, etc.). These festivities, which took place from February 13 to 15 around the Palatine Hill, aimed to bring purification and fertility to the people. To achieve this, the pagans undertook various rituals aimed at encouraging reproduction, between sacrifices and frantic races punctuated by blows of thongs that were supposed to promote the smooth running of pregnancies in young girls.
With the advent of the Christian religion, these rituals seemed at the very least scabrous and history tells that Julius Caesar tried to change the direction of this celebration to make it more in line with monotheistic society, in vain. Until the day when, in 494, Pope Gelasius I put a definitive end to this tradition. To replace this celebration at the beginning of the year, he decided to make February 14 the day of celebration of Saint Valentine, which did not completely get rid of the connotation of union and fertility that characterized the pagan celebration.
So does this mean that Romans were already exchanging velvet kisses on this day of February 14? How did we go from pagan sacrifices to red roses and words of love?
Lovebirds' Day
While history already hinted at a romantic future for this winter's day, it is in writings dating back to medieval England that we find the first mentions of Valentine's Day in direct connection with love. It is by browsing through documents from the 14th century that we can trace the meaning of this myth according to English poets.
Indeed, February 14th would be none other than the beginning of the mating season for birds. Thus, all begin to sing and perform their courtship parade in order to seduce a partner and perhaps form a couple of “lovebirds”, the equivalent of what the French call tourtereaux. This natural phenomenon combined with the historical elements of this date contribute, year after year, to building all the beliefs and customs that surround Valentine's Day as it is today.
Nowadays, Valentine's Day is a real institution that couples take advantage of to redouble their attention to each other, and above all, to take the time to prove their love. It is a privileged day for marriage proposals, pregnancy announcements and plans on the comet. Thousands of cards and gifts are sent throughout the world; red roses - emblems of passionate love - cover the windows of florists; macaroons and chocolates, generous, delicate and sensual delicacies, are offered and savored between loved ones without moderation.
To honor this tradition and offer a moment of refined pleasure to your partner on this special occasion, discover our special selection of gift ideas for Valentine's Day.
