Valentine’s Day and its celebration can be traced back to the days of the Pagans. As the centuries moved forward, these celebrations and rituals became intertwined with the practices and beliefs of the newer generations and have culminated into the celebration of love and romance the 21st century calls Valentine’s Day. But, how did we get here, you may ask? What were the Pagan celebrations and how did they become intertwined with other practices? To answer these questions we will need to rewind and look back to where most believe it all began, ancient Rome.
During the time of the Roman Empire, ancient Romans celebrated and honored Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. Juno was also considered the Goddess of women and marriage, and festivals in her honor were held on February 14th. Celebrations would continue through the night and into the next day with the festival of Lupercalia.
Lupercalia was a fertility celebration in honor of the Roman god of agriculture Faunus and for Romulus and Remus, creators of the Roman Empire. The festival began by sacrificing two goats, symbols of fertility, and a dog, the symbol of purification. The hide of the goat was then cut into bands and given to the boys. The boys would then run up and down the streets naked, gently striking everyone one in their path with these wooly strips. Varying records state it was the priests who did the sacrificing and running through the streets, other say it was noble youths and the magistrates who ran through the streets naked. Woman of all rank would willfully stand in line to be slapped on the hand, believing it would make them more fertile, prevent sterility, and ease the pain of childbirth.
Later in the day all the young Roman women would write their name on a piece of paper and put it into an urn. Then the young men of the city would pick a name from the jar and the two would be partners for the rest of the celebration. Sometimes these unions lasted a year and occasional the pair would fall in love and marry.
As Christianity spread through Rome many efforts were made to replace the pagan holidays with those of the church, and in 496 AD Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine’s Day. Many speculate this was an attempt to “Christianize” the celebrations of Juno and Lupercalia.
But just who was St. Valentine? The Catholic Encyclopedia lists at least three saints during this time. Most church scholars believe that the St. Valentine honored was a priest who angered Roman Emperor Claudius II in 270 AD.
At this juncture fact and myth merge. According to many legends Roman Emperor Claudius II, in an effort to recruit soldiers, forbid young men from marring. Valentine believed differently and continued to marry young lovers secretly. When he was finally caught, Claudius ordered Valentine to renounce his religion or he would be stoned, beaten and beheaded. Valentine refused and was sent to jail to await his fate. While in jail he met the jailer’s daughter and fell in love. On the day of his execution, February 14, 269 AD, Valentine sent her a letter signed, “from your Valentine” thus solidifying his appeal as a romantic figure and the custom of sending love notes.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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