February 14 is approaching, and that means that in the UK and many countries around the world, lovers will start exchanging flowers, cards and sweets with each other. And all this will take place in the name of Saint Valentine, an early Christian martyr whose story is unknown to many. In fact, the history of Valentine’s Day is a secret shrouded in mystery. However, February has long been seen as a month of romance, and Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated in the middle of the month, has roots both in early Christianity and ancient Roman traditions. And before you run off to buy a gift for your significant other, we want to tell you a little about who St. Valentine was and how the tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day came about.

The Three Legends of St Valentine

According to the Catholic Church, there were at least three individuals named Valentine or Valentinus. According to the first legend, Valentine was a priest living during the reign of Claudius II who believed that single men were more effective warriors than those with a couple. Aware of the absurdity of this idea, Valentinus continued to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. When word of Valentine’s disobedience reached Claudius II, he ordered the priest to be executed.

According to another legend, the true Valentine was a bishop from Terni who was also executed on the orders of Claudius II. Another legend has it that Valentine helped organise the escape of Christians from Roman prisons notorious for their cruel detention of prisoners. Subsequently, the imprisoned man himself fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and became the author of the first love note which today is commonly referred to as valentine’s greeting. Remarkably, he ended his love letter with the phrase ‘from your Valentine’, which is still popular today.

Legalising the Valentine’s Day Holiday

In pagan times, in mid-February, it was customary to celebrate Lupercalia, a festival of fruitfulness dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. Lupercalia, which continued to be celebrated in the early days of Christianity, was outlawed in the 5th century. It was then that Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as Valentine’s Day. However, this holiday did not become associated with love right away.

Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet, was the first to associate Valentine’s Day with romance in one of his poems from 1375. As far back as the Middle Ages, people verbally congratulated each other on Valentine’s Day. However, written greetings known as Valentine’s Day became popular in the 15th century. The oldest surviving Valentine’s Day greeting is the one written by the Duke of Orleans for his wife.

Cupid’s Arrows of Love

Depicted as a naked cherub, Cupid is often depicted on Valentine’s Day greetings. Being a Roman god, it is also related to the ancient Greek deity Eros. There are many conflicting legends regarding the origins of Eros. While some claim he is the son of Aphrodite and Ares, others claim he is the son of Nyx and Erebus. According to ancient Greek legends, Eros threw golden arrows to inflame feelings of love and lead arrows to sow disgust. However, later in the Hellenistic period, he was depicted as a child.

By the mid-18th century, the tradition of exchanging handwritten Valentine’s Day cards was firmly entrenched in all walks of life. A century later, when printing technology improved, handwritten Valentine’s cards were replaced by printed ones. Since direct expression of one’s feelings was not encouraged in those days, such cards were the only way to say ‘I love you’.

Today, Valentine’s Day is probably the most popular religious holiday after Christmas. It is also the holiday with a record number of greeting card sales. Red hearts, cupids and white doves are still the predominant symbols of the holiday and can be found everywhere. From literary works and movies to gambling games that can be played at Neosurf casino UK, Valentine’s Day is a manifestation in the popular culture of today. Although different countries have their own way of treating the holiday, February 14th can be a great occasion to express your warm feelings for your family and friends.