February 14 across the globe, Zimbabwe included, is associated with love and exchange of gifts between lovers, in what is known as Valentine’s Day. But have you ever wondered how this day came into being?
Below are some beliefs about Valentine’s Day, whose history dates back to ancient Rome and Victorian England.
- Who is the Day named after?
Valentine’s Day was named after its patron Saint (St.) Valentine. However, there is confusion around which Valentine, the holiday recognises. It is believed, according to History.com that there are at least two men named Valentine who could have influenced the holiday, including one Valentine who was a priest in third-century Rome. A story is told that this Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage, illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death. The emperor thought that marriage distracted young soldiers from executing their duties. Another Valentine is thought to have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed “From your Valentine.” According to History.com, the oldest record of a valentine being sent, was a poem written by a French medieval duke, Charles to his wife in 1415. He penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. He says in one of the lines in the poem: “I am already sick of love, my very gentle Valentine.” Swoon!
- How did the Valentine’s Day originate?
While some historians believe that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine on February 14, others are of the view that the holiday has its origins in a Pagan fertility festival called “Lupercalia,” which was celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. The day, dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus, was celebrated by sacrificing animals and smacking women with animal hides, a custom that was believed to encourage fertility. Roman Pope Gelasius, at the end of the 5th century, officially declared February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day” and later the holiday became associated with love and romance, a tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.
- When did people start exchanging cards and letters on the Valentine’s Day?
People started exchanging cards and handwritten letters to both lovers and friends during the 17th century. It was in the 1840s that the first Valentine’s Day cards were mass-produced in the U.S., sold by Esther A. Howland. Known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” Howland is credited with commercializing Valentine’s Day cards in America, and she is remembered for her elaborate, crafty cards made with lace and ribbons.
- How much is spent on Valentine’s Day annually?
According to Hallmark, 145 million worth of Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every February making Valentine’s Day the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, after Christmas. Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards annually, followed by children, mothers and wives. In 1913 Hallmark Cards produced their first Valentine’s card.
- In some communities pets receive gifts on Valentine’s Day
Around 27.6 million American households gave Valentine’s Day presents to their pet dogs in 2020, and more than 17.1 million picked up gifts for their cats, spending an estimated $751.3 million on gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day.
- Some people make marriage proposals on the Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular days for proposals. One survey showed that many would have loved to get engaged on V-Day.
- Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently around the world.
Many Latin American countries know the holiday as a day of lovers or a day of love and friendship. While couples exchange flowers and chocolate on this day, the holiday’s focus is also directed at showing gratitude to friends. In Japan, it is customary for just women to give confections to the men in their lives, with the quality of the chocolate indicating their true feelings, according to Fortune. On March 14, exactly a month later, the men repay the favour by celebrating the increasingly popular “White Day.
8. In a leap year like this one, women are expected to give gifts to men
In a leap year, according to Pique News Magazine, however, while the exact history of the tradition is murky, women are permitted and expected to take the lead on the battlefield of love including giving them gifts.
Who knows what the facts are and what the myths are around the day? Whatever they are, it’s a happy valentine’s day.
