FollowThe History of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has been around since the pre-Christian era and has evolved so much since then. When it all first began in ancient Rome there was a pagan fertility festival that was known as Lupercalia. This event took place during February 13th, 14th and 15th.
While this festival seems to be where the celebration of love evolved from, it was certainly not celebrated like it is today. Back then, women were whipped on their buttocks with whips made from goat or dog skin. This whipping was done by naked men and was done for the purpose of improving fertility.
When 289 rolled around, one of the most popular legends when it comes to Valentine’s Day emerges. The Emperor of Rome, Claudius, didn’t want any of the men to get married when there was a war happening. He wanted the soldiers to focus on the war at hand instead of tying the knot. There was a priest called Valentine that defied the wishes of the emperor and performed marriage ceremonies. The emperor was not happy with the priest and ordered him to be executed. While he was in jail before his execution, he wrote letters to the daughter of his jailer and always signed them “From Your Valentine”.
In 496, Pope Gelasius stated that February 14th would be known as a feast day for Christians called St. Valentine’s Day.
The first handwritten love poem is said to have occurred in 1382. The Father of English Literature, Geoffrey Chaucer, wrote about the mating season of the birds.
The first handwritten greeting was penned in 1415 by Charles, the Duke of Orleans. He wrote a love letter to his true love when he was captured at the Battle of Agincourt and held prisoner at the Tower of London.
Actual printed greeting cards were produced in the United States in 1847. This was done in Worcester, Massachusetts by Esther Howland and was done with paper lace.
Things started to turn around as far as how the holiday was celebrated in 1913. This is the time when cards, chocolates and other gifts became hugely popular.
The commercialism of Valentine’s Day just kept taking off throughout the years. In 2009, the holiday produced about $14 billion dollars in retail sales in the United States.
