Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, is a day when people send expressions of affection through cards or gifts to loved ones. Although the custom of this day is to send love messages, the day originated in early Christianity.
Historians claim there were two Saint Valentines, the Bishop of Terni (a city about 60 miles from Rome), and the Bishop of Rome, who were martyred within a year of each other on Feb. 14th, during the third century A.D.
According to legends, both the Bishop of Terni, Italy, and the Bishop of Rome were condemned for converting citizens to Christianity. One of the Christian teachings of Bishop Valentine of Rome was that marriage was an important step for those who loved each other.
These marriages were done in secret, due to Emperor Claudius II, who outlawed the marriage of young men. These young men would be needed in the Roman army, and would be more of a help if they didn’t have family responsibilities.
Eventually, the Bishop of Rome was caught and imprisoned for disobeying the emperor’s rule of marrying young men. While in prison, the jailer’s daughter would visit him regularly. Before he was executed, he wrote this young lady a letter signing it, “From your Valentine.” He was beheaded on Feb. 14, 269 A. D. Due to his effort to preserve marriages, the Vatican honored him by making Feb. 14 official.
In any case, the romantic connection of St. Valentine’s Day can be found in the pre-Christian Roman festival of Lupercalia, on Feb. 14, in honor of the god, Lupercus.
Pope Gelasius, in 496, changed the pagan Roman festival of Feb. 14 to St. Valentine’s Day. It was a way to give Christian meaning and names to a pagan festival, which the people had a hard time giving up. One feature at this festival was a lottery, where young men drew names of young women from an urn, thus securing the lady’s companionship for a year. It was a sort of lover’s year round holiday. Later, another custom developed. The young Roman men wrote notes of affection to young women on these slips of paper.
Early Christianity’s version of this lottery game was to replace Lupercus for a saintly lover, which they found in the martyred Bishop Valentine on Feb. 14. In addition, the names of saint’s were placed in the box. The young people, upon drawing a name, were to emulate the virtues of the saint all year long. The name one drew was called a “valentine.”
As Christianity spread, St. Valentine’s Day became established in Scotland, France and especially in England by the Middle Ages.
One of the popular games of this day continued to be that of young men drawing young girl’s names from a box. The paper, or love billet, with the girl’s name on it sometimes contained poetry.
An additional custom of this day was for the young men and women valentines to give presents to each other. Once such choice of a present was a pair of gloves, as this rhyme from Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy states:
“Good-morrow, Valentine, I go today
To wear for you, what you must pay,
A pair of gloves next Easter-day.”
The young man who received this oral message was expected to present his valentine with new gloves by Easter. This custom came about because, when a man asked to marry his beloved, he was asking “for her hand.” Other gifts of affection that were exchanged with romantic poems were flowers and candy.
Another belief of this day being associated with love is the old idea that birds chose their mates on Feb. 14. Chaucer, in Parliament of Fouls, mentions this:
“For this was Seynt Valentynes’ day
When every foul cometh to choose his mate.”
Not only were romantic messages written for Valentine’s day, but during the Middle Ages, when not everyone could read or write, lovers or friends also sang their messages to each other. The earliest surviving valentines were composed by Charles, Duke of Orleans, in 1415. While imprisoned in the Tower of London, the Duke of Orleans sent his wife valentine poems.
By the 17th century, booklets of verses could be obtained to copy love messages. By the 18th century, “real” valentines were printed. Early settlers brought the custom to America where it flourished as well.
Whether one is young or old, remembering someone with love is heartwarming to both the beneficiary and to the sender. Happy Valentine’s Day. Love.
Carole Christman Koch grew up in Berks County and has been published in numerous publications. She has a passion for writing and has many stories from growing up on a farm to everyday stories.
