When was Valentine's Day and how to celebrate it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Find out how the holiday is associated with sacrifices and how many Valentine's saints actually were.

Where did Valentine's Day come from?

Valentine's Day, or Valentine's Day, is celebrated every year on February 14th. Now the holiday is known all over the world, but few people know its intricate history.

There is a widespread, but unconfirmed opinion of The Dark Origins Of Valentine's Day that it originated from the ancient Roman pagan Lupercalia - festivities in honor of the god Luperk (Pan in Greek mythology). The priests (luperki) in mid-February sacrificed goats and made belts out of their skins. After that, they whipped everyone they met, running around the city almost without clothes. It was a good sign for women to fall under such a blow: according to legends, this promised them easy childbirth and large offspring.

In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I canceled Saint Gelasius I these wild festivities and allegedly at the same time declared February 14 as Valentine's Day.

The most interesting thing is that there were several Valentine saints. At least three early Christian martyrs are known with this name. The first died Acta Sanctorum on February 14 in the African colony of Rome, along with 24 fellow believers. Another Saint Valentine was a Roman priest, and the third was a bishop from Umbria. There was not so much reliable information about the life of all three. For this reason, in the Middle Ages, several legends about Saint Valentine appeared, and his image became to some extent collective.

According to one such legend, Valentine was arrested for refusing to renounce his faith. With his prayers, he restored the sight of the blind daughter of the jailer, after which he freed the prisoner and was baptized along with his entire family. But later Valentine was again convicted and sentenced to death on the same charge. In a more romantic version of the legend, the saint and the blind girl had tender feelings for each other, and before his execution, he left her a love letter with the signature “Your Valentine”.

Later, they began to talk about Valentine as a kind priest who secretly married Christian couples, despite the ban of Emperor Claudius II. The ruler believed that affection for the family prevented men from fighting valiantly in numerous wars. It soon became known that Valentine was breaking the law and helping lovers. By order of Claudius, he was beheaded for this crime.

Despite the popularity of these legends, literary historian Jack Orach argues that the tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day as a holiday for lovers did not appear until the end of the 14th century in England. The scientist and several of his colleagues consider Who's to blame for Valentine's Day? that the patron saint of martyr couples made the poet Geoffrey Chaucer. In his work Parliament of Birds, he wrote that birds start looking for a partner on Valentine's Day. Later, other poets and writers began to spread this statement and call February 14 the holiday of lovers. There are such lines, for example, in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

In the late Middle Ages, an extremely romantic mood reigned among the noble people. Vows of eternal love and refined courting a lady (or gentleman) of the heart were a fashionable occupation, and the idea of a holiday dedicated to all lovers was accepted with a bang. The tradition of confessing your feelings to your chosen ones on Valentine's Day took root and eventually spread throughout the world.

What symbols and traditions does Valentine's Day have?

Lovely cards in the form of a heart with words of love are perhaps the main attribute of the holiday. The first Valentine was created by the Duke of Orleans back in the 15th century, while imprisoned in the Tower. He composed the poem A Farewell to Love for his wife, in which he called her "gentle Valentine."Later, similar sentimental works were written on small pieces of parchment and presented to a caring person.

With the rise of capitalism, enterprising printer owners began to print massively by February 14 postcards for those who found it difficult to come up with a congratulation on their own. Over time, other companies began to look for benefits in the holiday. For example, the Cadbury confectionery factory released David Carr Candymaking in Canada: The History and Business of Canada’s Confectionery Industry in February 1861, heart-shaped chocolates.

Thanks to popular culture and skillful advertising, Valentine's Day has become firmly associated not only with cardboard hearts and sweets, but also with flowers, soft toys and jewelry. All these things are now considered symbols of the holiday. If you don't want to be limited to a bouquet or a valentine, take a note of our gift ideas for guys and girls.

In some countries, their feelings on this day are expressed in more unusual ways. In Denmark, for example, it is customary to present humble snowdrops and write poetry to beloved anonymously. Residents of South Africa make a valentine with the name of a nice person and attach it to the sleeve of their clothes. And in Finland on February 14, they do without sweeping romantic gestures and congratulate only friends.

In South Korea, Valentine's Day has taken on, perhaps, the most original form. Instead of one holiday, Koreans celebrate three. On February 14, gifts (usually chocolate) are given only to men. Exactly one month later, the "White Day" begins, when women accept reciprocal congratulations. And April 14 is dedicated to lonely people. They usually gather in groups and eat the traditional Changjangmyeong dish of noodles and black bean sauce.

How to spend Valentine's Day if you have a couple

If you decide to make this day unforgettable for your loved one, but have not yet figured out how, try one of these ideas.

Have a romantic dinner

Gourmet food, champagne and candles are a classic trick from romantic movies. Invite a partner to a restaurant or prepare dinner yourself. And to make everything go perfectly, use the tips of the Lifehacker.

Get out of town

In restaurants and cinemas this day there will probably be no empty seats. So, if you want to spend more privacy, arrange a mini-trip for two. You don't have to leave for another country or region: visit a small town nearby or just spend the weekend at the dacha.

Organize a photo session

Invite a professional photographer and take some beautiful pictures to commemorate this day. Just make sure that both you and your partner are comfortable in front of the camera, so as not to turn the holiday into a disaster.

Make an album of memories

If you already have enough joint photos, try making an album out of them. Think back to the funny and touching moments of your relationship, write them down, and then paste pictures from that day or other memorabilia, such as movie tickets.

Have a movie marathon

It is not at all necessary to arrange any activities for the holiday. Just stay at home and spend the day watching movies together. You can do without classic melodramas and, for example, remember your favorite superhero saga.

How to spend Valentine's Day when you're single

If you meet the most romantic holiday of the year without a couple, do not be discouraged. Have a Self-Love Day.

Go for a spa or exercise

Visit a beauty salon, get a massage, workout, or simply take a relaxing bubble bath. Show love and care for your body, and it will definitely thank you.

Listen to a lecture or attend a master class

Perhaps you have long wanted to learn something new. Why not start this day? Sign up for a clay sculpting lesson, attend a cocktail mixing workshop, or play one of the thousands of online lectures currently available.

Do a good deed

Choose a charitable organization and find a cause for yourself according to your strength and capabilities. For example, you can spend the day with lonely seniors, walk your dog from a shelter, or donate blood. And some foundations may need help related to your profession. It is possible that they will benefit from a little consultation. We are sure that even such a simple matter will cheer you up.

Go shopping

Shopping is one of the most obvious ways to please yourself. In order for it to bring positive emotions, try not to make impulsive purchases and choose the really necessary thing that you will be happy to use. It can be clothes, pretty dishes, a sex toy, or even some small thing like hand cream.

Do the cleaning

You can not acquire new things, but, on the contrary, get rid of old ones. Take your unloved clothes to a thrift store and throw away any excess trash that has accumulated at home. And after cleaning, try making a small rearrangement. The approaching spring is the best time for renewal in life, even if it is so simple and small.