Valentine’s Day, the true history and origin of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is not a department store invention. Beyond marketing, gifts, trips and romantic dinners, there is a story that is as unique as it is fascinating and deserves to be known. February 14 symbolized the purpose of a Pope to put an end to certain pagan customs that were still practiced in Rome, and thus exalt the figure of a brave priest.

Historians say that Valentine’s Day was an invention, a clever ploy by Pope Gelasius I to put an end to those festivals that are celebrated in Rome in the 495th century AD. C in honor of the Roman god Lupercus, protector of fertility and flocks and identified with the sacred wolf of Mars. The shepherds and a large part of the population eagerly awaited the arrival of those days contained between February 13 and 15 to pay their honors to the wolf who suckled (according to legend) the founders of Rome: Romulus and Remus.

The Catholic elite expressly placed their own holiday on February 14, attempting to abolish this pagan tradition. However, this decision to end the archaic rites related to fertility was maintained for centuries, thus leaving the Valentine’s Day festival to history. However, yes, This celebration was eliminated from the Catholic calendar in 1969 during the papacy of Paul VI.

The Second Vatican Council thought that myth and legend were mixed too much. However, In 2014, Pope Francis wanted to recover that festivity and give it a religious meaning once again. He celebrated a mass where hundreds of couples attended to pay tribute to a figure: Saint Valentine.

Who was Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day existed. Archaeologists have found a catacomb located in the viale Maresciallo Pilsudski (the Pinciano neighborhood in Rome) dedicated to this figure. Likewise, the cult of his person also appears in other countries such as in the parish church of the Assumption of Saint Mary in Chelmno, Poland; in the Stephansdom Church in Vienna, Malta and also in the Church of Blessed John Duns Scotus in Glasgow, Scotland.

His story, the story that traced this very special holiday, It begins in Rome in the 3rd century.

Emperor Claudius II, the man who banned marriage among soldiers

In the 3rd century BC. C the Roman Empire was struggling with numerous problems. The first was the fierce incursion of the Goths. The second was a shortage of labor both for the countryside and in the ranks of the army. The emperor therefore needed strong soldiers dedicated to the cause and for this reason, he issued a law as unusual as it was striking.

He forbade soldiers to marry. According to him, a man without a family is more committed to his emperor and focused on battle. The third problem for the Empire was also the Christians, whom it persecuted, tortured and murdered. It was in this context where a very unique figure emerged strongly.

A brave priest

In texts like Legenda Sanctorum of Jacobus of Voragine and in the Nuremberg Chronicle1493 There is talk of a priest of great character and courage who not only protected Christians. In addition, he defended traditional marriage and secretly married soldiers to their partners.

That raised the anger of the state and Saint Valentine was brought before Judge Asterius of Rome to be judged. He told him that if he was truly a saint, he should cure his daughter’s blindness. Saint Valentine did so, and with this he not only escaped death, but converted Asterius and his entire family to Christianity.

Nevertheless, This happiness and relief at saving his life was short-lived. Some time later, Emperor Claudius would arrest him again. He was tired of her defiance, full of anger at a man who was acquiring excessive fame.

He was quickly tried and sentenced to death. However, before being martyred, Valentine was allowed to write a letter to that young woman to whom he had restored her sight. For many it was a love letter, for others a farewell. Whatever it was, With that letter the tradition of sending letters and notes to the people we love on this date was also established.

After that last concession, the priest was publicly beaten with sticks and stones. After, He would be beheaded at the Flaminia Gate on February 14, 269 AD in front of the entire square.

Another version of Valentine’s Day

For its part, other sources affirm that Claudius II, upon learning of the marriage vows that he himself had prohibited, ordered Saint Valentine to be captured to reprimand and banish him.

However, thanks to the influence of other officials, he ordered the priest to be beheaded. While he was waiting in prison, he noticed that the judge’s daughter was blind. So He prayed to God and asked that the young woman regain her sight, so that she could see him on the day of his execution.

When the day arrives, Valentine gives a girl a piece of paper to read. She, without understanding what he was asking (given her blindness), opened the note and for the first time was able to see; The first image of him being a phrase written by the priest that said: “Your Valentine“.

Historians who support this version They defend that Valentín fell in love with the judge’s daughterso the symbolism as a saint of love is much more significant.

Geoffrey Chaucer and the romantic tradition of Valentine’s Day

Historian William Federer explains that That somewhat dramatic vision of Saint Valentine with his martyrdom and his end was softened thanks to the poems of Geofrey Chaucer. This English writer, philosopher, diplomat and poet made us associate this holiday with courtly love. Thus, in some way, the most religious vision lost its original trail to become closer, romantic and detailed.

Geoffrey de Chaucer describes us in his poem Parlement of Foules (1382) how a loved one offers his beloved a letter on Valentine’s Day. Later, we found other testimonies about how this practice was established in the English court and later in the French one.

So, the duke of orléans he would send his wife a letter with an emotional poem to remind him of his love on this date while he was held in the Tower of London during the Battle of Agincourt. As we see, the festivity of this date contains a series of stories whose tradition has remained firm despite the centuries.

After all, love is that incombustible force that always inspires us and gives us life. Let us therefore celebrate Valentine’s Day not only every February 14, but every day of the year.

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