By Stoyan Dookov
Who is St. Valentine?
St. Valentine is recognized as a figure associated with love and romance. He is believed to have lived in the 3rd century AD during the reign of Emperor Claudius 2 in Rome. He was canonized by the Catholic Church and his feast day was celebrated on February 14. His association with love grew during the Middle Ages when poets like Geoffrey Chaucer romanticized the day in their works.
Why is St. Valentine associated with 14th February?
There are a lot of legends about him for being the saint of love and romance. One of the most popular stories about him is that Claudius the Second banned young men from getting married, believing that young, unmarried men are better soldiers. St. Valentine was against this decision and was performing marriages in secret. After his actions were discovered, he was imprisoned and sentenced to execution.
Another legend claims that during his imprisonment, he healed a jail warden’s blind daughter and wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine” before his execution.
When does Valentine’s Day become a commercial holiday?
This holiday started getting commercialized during the 19th century in the USA and England. First came the Valentine’s Day cards. Production began in 1847 by Esther A. Howland, an American entrepreneur, by producing elaborate, lace-trimmed Valentine cards in Worcester, Massachusetts.
In the 20th century, this industry expanded from cards to different gifts such as chocolates, flowers, and jewelry.
Who is St. Valentina?
St. Valentina is a lesser-known martyr who is believed to have lived during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire in the 4th century. She got executed because she refused to renounce her faith. She is a symbol of unwavering faith and devotion to Christianity, even in the face of death. Her feast day is also on 14th February as St. Valentine’s Day, but not celebrated by many people because she is not well known.
Why is Cupid connected with Valentine’s Day?
The main reason why Cupid is associated with Valentine’s Day is because they both are symbolic representations of love and desire. Another reason for the god of love to be connected with this holiday is due to the commercializing of him. His image was used in advertisements, gift cards, and decoration, while also being used to market different companies.