Valentine's Day

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Chaucer Hoccleve

John Donne BBC News

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. Originating as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine's Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world.

Origins

The day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

Saint Valentine

Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14, and added to later martyrologies. A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his judge, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell.

Celebrations Worldwide

While Valentine's Day is celebrated in most countries, different cultures have developed their own traditions for this festival. In some parts of the world, Valentine's Day is observed as a day for expressing love between family members and friends, rather than that of romantic couples. Some traditions include leaving lollipops and gifts for children and others include acts of appreciation between friends.

Commercialization

The day is highly commercialized, with both local and international businesses advertising promotions for Valentine's Day gifts, dinners, and romantic getaway packages. According to market research, Valentine's Day is one of the major spending holidays globally. Critics argue that Valentine's Day is overly commercialized and that it puts undue pressure on individuals to express their love in monetary ways.

Controversy and Alternative Celebrations

Valentine's Day has been criticized for its association with Christian martyrdom, its commercialization, and its impact on non-romantic relationships. Some individuals choose to celebrate Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D.) as an alternative to Valentine's Day, either out of opposition to the commercialization of the holiday or because they are single. In some countries, efforts have been made to ban or restrict the celebration of Valentine's Day in schools and public spaces, citing it as a Western cultural import that contradicts local traditions and values.

See Also

• Courtly love
• Romantic love
• Singles Awareness Day