Valentine’s Day, celebrated annually on February 14, has a long and fascinating history that spans centuries. What began as an ancient Roman festival has evolved into a global celebration of love, marked by romantic gestures, gift exchanges, and grand declarations of affection.
The origins of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, celebrated from February 13 to 15. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.
The festival involved animal sacrifices, feasting, and a matchmaking lottery where young men and women were paired together for the duration of the festival—or even longer.
As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, many pagan festivals were either modified or abolished. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day, replacing Lupercalia with a celebration honouring Saint Valentine.
Who Was Saint Valentine?
There are multiple legends surrounding Saint Valentine, making it difficult to determine his exact identity. The most popular belief is that he was a Roman priest who performed secret marriages for soldiers, defying Emperor Claudius II’s decree that young men remain unmarried to be better warriors.
Another version suggests he was a bishop who helped persecuted Christians and was executed for his faith.
One romantic legend claims that before his execution, Valentine wrote a farewell letter to a young woman—possibly the jailer’s daughter—signing it “From your Valentine,” a phrase still used today. Over time, Saint Valentine became associated with love and romance, and his feast day grew in significance.
Courtly Love and Romantic Traditions
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day had become associated with courtly love, a medieval European tradition that idealized romantic devotion. The belief that birds began mating in mid-February further reinforced the connection between February 14 and romance.
During this period, lovers exchanged handwritten notes and tokens of affection, laying the groundwork for the Valentine’s Day traditions we know today.
The Renaissance Period
By the Renaissance, the exchange of Valentine’s messages had become more common. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the tradition spread across Europe, with lovers giving love letters, poems, and small gifts to express their affection.
In 1797, a British publisher released “The Young Man’s Valentine Writer,” a guide containing romantic verses for those unable to compose their own. This period also saw the rise of printed Valentine’s Day cards, which became popular due to advances in printing technology.
Into the Mainstream
Valentine’s Day underwent a major transformation in the 19th century with the rise of industrialisation. In 1840, Esther Howland, known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” began mass-producing decorative cards in the United States.
Her elaborately designed cards, featuring lace, ribbons, and sentimental verses, helped establish the tradition of exchanging Valentine’s Day cards.
By the 20th century, the holiday had expanded beyond handwritten messages. Chocolates, flowers, and jewelry became popular gifts. Hallmark Cards began mass-producing Valentine’s cards in the early 1900s, further cementing the commercial aspect of the holiday.
Valentine’s Day is marked among friends and couples around the world. In Western countries, it remains a day for couples to exchange romantic gifts, dine out or plan special getaways.
In Nigeria, thanks to the rise of social media, the holiday has become hugely commercial, as young Nigerians on TikTok and Instagram promote discounted sales on perfumes, rose flowers, sleek underwear and designer wristwatches.
While the ways people express love have changed over the centuries, the essence of Valentine’s Day—celebrating affection and connection—remains timeless. The evolution of Valentine’s Day indicates how traditions shift over time, blending history, mythology and commerce into a day dedicated to love.
Valentine’s Day, celebrated every February 14th, has evolved from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia into a global celebration of love. Initially a fertility festival involving animal sacrifices and matchmaking, it was replaced in 496 AD by St. Valentine’s Day under Pope Gelasius I. Saint Valentine, a figure with multiple legends, is most commonly thought to have performed secret marriages against Emperor Claudius II’s wishes or helped persecuted Christians, becoming a symbol of love and romance.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day had become linked with courtly love, with lovers exchanging handwritten notes. The Renaissance saw the spread of this tradition across Europe. The exchange of love letters and small gifts evolved with industrialisation in the 19th century, notably with Esther Howland’s mass-produced decorative cards in the US and the eventual rise of chocolates, flowers, and other tokens of affection.
Today, Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday globally, marked by various expressions of love among couples and even expanding to social media promotions, as seen in Nigeria. Despite changes over time, its core—celebrating affection and connection—remains enduring.
