Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but its history may be far more fascinating than any other love story. Valentine’s Day isn’t just about flowers and chocolates, it’s a day all about love, friendship, and a little bit of history, too!
According to History.com, Valentine’s Day traces its roots back to ancient Rome, where there was a festival called Lupercalia that took place in mid-February. This may ring a bell for people familiar with Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, as the nurse mentions it in one of her famous raunchy monologues. Lupercalia was a day all about love, basically, greeting the coming of spring and a celebration of fertility taking place on February 15. Ironically as a way of celebrating, goats and dogs would be sacrificed and strange rituals would take place. Thankfully, later, in the 5th century, things shifted from a celebration of Luceralia with the rise of Christianity because it was seen as unholy.
In the third century, a man called St. Valentine came along and eventually, the holiday was changed by the pope into the Christian holi
day of St. Valentine’s Day. There are a couple of different stories behind him. One popular story says he was a priest, who did weddings in secret for soldiers since marriage was forbidden by the Roman Emperor. When caught, he was thrown in jail for life. However, before he died, he supposedly sent a love letter signed, “From your Valentine”. Just like that, the idea of Valentine’s Day as a holiday of love was born.
Valentine’s Day continues to hold a deep and lasting significance. It is a reminder to the people in our lives of their importance and value. People express their love for their closest friends, family members, and even pets through thoughtful gestures like small gifts, heartfelt messages, and acts of kindness. Whether it’s through buying flowers, going out for dinner, or simply conveying your appreciation, Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to spreading love in every conceivable way.
From the Staff here at HyBreeze, we hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
