Valentine’s Day didn’t begin as a celebration of roses and romance. Its story stretches back centuries, blending ancient traditions, religious history, poetry, and modern marketing into the holiday we know today.
Many historians trace its earliest roots to ancient Rome. In mid-February, Romans celebrated a fertility festival called Lupercalia, which marked the coming of spring and included rituals meant to encourage health and fertility. By the late 400s A.D., Pope Gelasius I established February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day, likely as part of an effort to replace pagan observances with a Christian feast day.
The identity of St. Valentine himself is somewhat mysterious. Early records mention multiple Christian martyrs with that name. One popular legend centers on a priest who secretly performed marriages for couples after Claudius II supposedly banned weddings for young soldiers. According to tradition, the priest was executed for defying the order, and later stories claim he sent a farewell note signed “from your Valentine,” a phrase still used today.
The holiday’s shift from solemn remembrance to romance didn’t happen overnight. In the 1300s, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer helped link the date with love when he wrote about birds choosing their mates on St. Valentine’s Day. His poetry—and later medieval writers inspired by the ideals of courtly love—helped cement the idea of February 14 as a day for affection and admiration.
By the 1800s, Valentine’s Day was becoming more recognizable. In the United States, Esther Howland popularized decorative cards, launching one of the first successful mass-produced valentine businesses. The tradition grew rapidly, and companies such as Hallmark Cards expanded the holiday’s reach in the early 20th century through printed cards and gift products.
Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide in different ways. In Japan, women traditionally give chocolates on February 14, with men returning the gesture a month later on White Day. In Mexico, it’s known as the Day of Love and Friendship, honoring both romance and close bonds. Despite its ancient and religious beginnings, the holiday has evolved into a global occasion focused on expressing affection—whether through love notes, gifts, or simple acts of kindness.
