The History of Valentine’s Day and Ways to Celebrate It

2/13/19

Written by Lilly Combs

Valentine’s Day was not always the glorified, romantic holiday that it is today. In fact, the origin of this holiday was pretty gory, and not what most people would expect. In ancient Rome, February 13-15 the feast of Lupercalia was celebrated, and one of the ways to celebrate was by whipping women with animal hides. Not quite the traditional Valentine’s day you think of, right?

Years later, there were several saints named Valentine, and there are many different stories about these men. One legend says that the emperor of Rome outlawed marriage for men because unmarried men were better for battle. St. Valentine thought this was wrong and married the soldiers in secret, which he was eventually martyred for. Another legend says Valentine was imprisoned for helping Christian prisoners escape their death sentences. While in prison, he wrote letters to a girl who visited him in jail signing them “From your Valentine.” Sounds a little more like what we are used to.

Then a more modern version of Valentine’s Day probably started in the Middle Ages when noblemen began writing poems and notes to their ‘valentines.’ In the seventeenth century, it became more widespread for people to give people they cared for small tokens of their appreciation on Valentine’s day, writing cards and giving them gifts. Of course, industrialism took over and many companies began marketing for Valentine’s Day. The rest is history.

Ways you can spend Valentine’s Day today:

  • Write Valentines for all your friends
  • Bake cookies with your friends and have a sleepover
  • Eat or make chocolate covered strawberries
  • Have a movie marathon
  • Go out on a date with that special someone
  • Throw a party
  • Tell your family how much they mean to you
  • Make some memes, become a meme god
  • Use a face mask and paint your nails
  • Give flowers to strangers and spread the love

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