Valentine's Day: How it started and how it's going

Valentine’s Day: How it Started and How it’s Going

Valentine's Day, a holiday celebrated by all ages—by elementary schoolers as they go around their classrooms and drop off the small bags filled with candy and stickers to the hand made boxes on their classmates’ desks; by those in love as they go out to dinner and exchange roses and cards. Just like any holiday, there is an origin of the day that doesn’t directly relate to the traditions and expectations we hold today. Unlike Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, the origin of Valentine’s Day’s is not commonly known or understood.

Valentine's Day took off from Ancient Roman and Christian traditions. It all began with a man known as St.Valentine. It has yet to be discovered which St.Valentine we can give credit to for this tradition, as there are more than one by this last name in the time period, which is estimated to be at about 270 AD. One St.Valentine assisted in the escape of Christians under Roman persecution, he went to jail for his efforts. While in jail, he wrote to his love interest and signed the letter, “from your valentine” (History.com). That tale has not been confirmed. In addition to this man, there were two saints known by the surname Valentine who were executed by Emperor Cladius II on February 14th of the same century. A commemoration of one of these saints could have begun the feast of St. Valentine, but it is unclear. So between these three Valentines, no one knows which is responsible for the origin of the holiday (Smithsonianmag.com).

Beyond the knowledge of these men and their stories, the question still remains about how this past of persecution came together as a holiday dedicated to acts of love. More than a thousand years after the death of these martyrs, the poet Geoffery Chaucer, “decreed the February feast of St.Valentinus to the mating of birds”. Bird mating season is February, and—as peculiar as it seems—because of this fact, the day of the feast was slowly attributed to love. The holiday was soon observed by people sending letters to their love interests, not too different from what goes on today. By the 1900s, pre printed cards took off, making the exchange of cards entirely more methodical and prominent. Soon enough, the age of consumerism, especially in accordance with holidays, took over St.Valentine's Day as well, and the chocolates and everything heart shaped came right along with it. “Today, according to Hallmark, an estimated 145 million valentines day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (more cards are sent at Christmas)” (History.com). 

On the other side of these high numbers of consumption, DeseretNews.com observed a downward trend of celebration in the U.S since 2007. This can likely be attributed to the fact that divorce rates are over 50% and people in the younger generations who are approaching marriage age, are less fond of the idea and the traditional values it upholds. In addition to that, according to the Washingtonpost, more than half of adults ages 18-24 are without a romantic partner. As the core of this holiday is love, most commonly romantic love, its popularity can be easily diminished by the downturn in relationships we are seeing.

However, even with a decline in the holiday’s celebration, it isn't likely that the holiday will die out altogether anytime soon, as that hasn't happened with any holidays in recent centuries. The ideal of romantic love being celebrated has withstood the test of time. But this holiday doesn't need to follow its original intention or the track of high consumption of cards and other store-bought gifts. It can simply act as a day to recognize love— not only romantically but also within friendships or families. We can go back to the days of elementary school, and shower our friends with small but thoughtful gifts, to uphold the tradition and authentically represent love.