The month of February is described as the colors pink and red. This month celebrates not only black people, but the love that fills our bodies with magnifying strength. On February 14th, the day is dedicated to romance, hugs, and family dates.
So, how did this Hallmark acclaimed holiday come to be?
Well, if you’ve ever heard of the Roman empire, it starts there. There are many different parts of history pertaining to a multitude of different religions. However, despite St. Valentine’s vast existence, his presence is said to have been focused in the Christian and Ancient Rome world.
In the Catholic Church, there are 3 saints recognized, one being St. Valentine. The legend goes that St. Valentine was a priest in Rome. When the ruler of Rome, Claudius II Gothicus, banned marriage of young men to promote better soldiers, St. Valentine persisted and married people anyway. Due to his actions in the name of love, he was beheaded.
There are other stories that say that St. Valentine saved Christians from torture and abuse in the Roman prisons. Within this legend, it is said he fell in love with a young girl, in which the greeting of Valentine was created.
Despite his vastly different stories and appearances within the Roman world, his person is united under the idea of love, heroism, and empathy.
This was just the beginning of this day of love, as a Pagan festival proclaimed this day, then February 15th, as a day for fertility. This celebration was called Lupercalia. This festival was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of Agriculture. Roman priests, called the Luperci, gathered together in a cave and skinned a goat and killed a dog as sacrifice. The strips of the goat were dipped in blood and were used to slap women to bless them with fertility.
This Pagan holiday became more violent every year, and eventually ended due to Christians banning it.
And finally, the growth of Valentines day began as we know it now in England and France. They knew it as “bird-mating” season, which to them meant the season of romance!
Now, through years of evolution, Valentine’s day has become a tradition amongst families and partners to celebrate the love in all of our hearts. Although Valentine’s day has become a holiday to capitalize off of young love and get fat off of chocolate, it is rich in history that deserves to be shared.
Valentine’s Day deserves more than the association with Hallmark movies, and more about the spread of love in this cruel, yet gentle, world we inhabit.
