The history of Valentine's Day dates back to the 3rd century during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in Rome. At that time, the emperor decided to forbid the marriages of young soldiers, believing that they would not make good soldiers if they had children or strong family ties.
This is where the story of a certain Valentin comes into play. A physician by profession, he chose to convert to Christianity and become a priest. Valentin found the emperor's law entirely unjust and decided to clandestinely marry soldiers who desired to be wed.
Unfortunately, rumors reached the emperor's ears, leading to Valentin's condemnation to death. Before his execution, he was initially sent to a dismal cell where he encountered the blind daughter of the jailer. During his incarceration, they formed a deep bond, and their love was so profound that the young girl, named Arteria, regained her sight. As the emperor ordered Valentin's beheading on February 14, he penned a small note declaring his love to the young girl and signed it "Your Valentine." It appears that this tradition originated from there, initially involving a simple exchange of affectionate notes between lovers.
In some accounts, there are mentions of two Valentins: Saint Valentine of Rome and Saint Valentine of Terni, both said to have lived in the 3rd century. They were martyred around dates close to February 14.
Additionally, it's worth noting that on February 14 in ancient Rome, it was the eve of the festival called "Lupercalia." This festival was associated with the god Lupercus, a protector of farmers, crops, and wild animal herds, as well as the god Faunus (identified with Pan in Greek mythology) and the she-wolf believed to have nursed Rome's legendary founders, Romulus and Remus. Other sources indicate that it might also be in honor of Juno, the goddess representing women, fertility, and marriage.
Lupercalia was fundamentally a ritual of purification and fertility, taking place at the Lupercal Cave on Palatine Hill, where, according to legend, the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus. Participants, called Luperci, were priests who officiated during the ceremony. Animal sacrifices, including goats for fertility symbolism and dogs for protection symbolism, took place in the cave. Following this, the priests would smear themselves with the animals' blood, don their skins, and run around the hill, making ritual gestures and whipping those they encountered with leather straps made from animal skins. The individuals encountered were usually women of childbearing age, as the belief was that the whip lashes were meant to ease childbirth, promote fertility, and ward off malevolent influences.
Alongside these rituals, the festival was associated with love, fertility, and the search for a soulmate. Elements related to Cupid, the god of love in the Roman pantheon, were prevalent.
Young men would draw the name of an unmarried woman from an urn, leading to their union until the next Lupercalia, often resulting in marriage.
It was in the 5th century that Pope Gelasius I Christianized the Lupercalia festival, transforming it into the celebration of Valentine's Day, ultimately leading to the canonization of the martyr Valentin.
Credit images:
Lupercalia - https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5057/5444376296_9e6c9532eb.jpg
Saint-Valentine - Commons wikimedia
Venus, Faun and Cupid - Commons wikimedia