Valentinus Valentines

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The Day of Lovers on February 14th refers to Saint Valentine, but there were several early Christian saints with the same name.

According to legend, Valentine’s Day dates back to February 14, 269. At that time, a certain Valentinus is said to have lost his head – not out of romantic love, but among other things because he married soldiers according to the Christian tradition, who were forbidden to marry during their service in the legions of the Roman emperor. Allegedly, according to legend, Valentin also gave the lovers flowers from his own garden.

Beheaded for his faith

The special day of St. Valentinus on February 14th was introduced to the whole church in 496. At first, however, this had little to do with romantic love, but rather with the love of God. For, if there was one Valentine at all, then he became a martyr because Emperor Claudius first wanted to get to know him, but then had him executed because Valentinus did not convert to the Roman faith of the state, which demanded that the emperor also be worshiped as a god.

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Flowers are probably more for pagan rituals

The thing about the flowers for the lovers is more likely to be based on a clash of dates. Between the 13th and 15th of February, the Lupercalia was celebrated in ancient Rome – a fertility ritual in honor of the goddess Juno, the protector of marriage and family, among other things. Not only were the altars of the goddess decorated but the women within the family were given flowers, and so the holiday in honor of Saint Valentine fell on ready ground and the flower tradition remained in connection with his day of remembrance.

Several saints named Valentine

It is questionable whether the traditional Valentinus existed, and, because there are so many with the same name, which one is the right one?

At least three saints of this name are recorded:

Valentine of Rome suffered the described martyrdom by beheading in 269.
Valentine of Terni, on the other hand, is said to have suffered martyrdom under Emperor Aurelian in 273.
A third Valentine is said to have suffered martyrdom in Africa with several companions. All three have only their gruesome deaths in common – symbols of suffering, not love.

Love doesn’t come into play until 1,000 years later

In the 14th century, love was trending, with the idealization of love between man and woman. The medieval influencers – bards, poets, and painters – glorified romance and courtship, while in reality, most marriages were probably more alliances of convenience for procreation and the preservation of awarded rights.

First written evidence

An annual festival of love on February 14th was mentioned written in France in 1400. The text describes great festivities at court with feasts, love song competitions, tournament fights, and dancing. The oldest surviving work on Valentine’s Day is a rondeau (type of French poetry) by Duke Charles of Orléans from 1415 to his wife, translated: “I am already sick with love, my sweet Valentine”.

From then on, St. Valentine’s Day becomes a day of love, especially in the English-speaking world. Shakespeare has Ophelia languish after Hamlet as early as 1600:

“Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.”

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Love letters and first greeting cards

But it took another 200 years or so until the trendsetters of today’s customs developed into an occasion where lovers expressed their tender feelings for each other by giving each other flowers and sweets and sending greeting cards – the so-called “Valentines” to this day. In 1797, a book of verses was published in England for young lovers who could not write poetry themselves:

“The rose is red, the violet’s blue,
The honey’s sweet, and so are you.”

Hearts and Keys

At that time, a visual language developed that is still valid today. Objects with heart-shaped outlines, the winged messenger of love Cupid, pink and red as symbolic colors and keys to (heart-shaped, of course) locks. English settlers then took the Valentine’s custom with them to the United States.

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Printed cards and heart-shaped chocolate

Since the 19th century, handwritten Valentine’s greetings have been replaced by printed greeting cards. Since that time, almost half of the British population has been spending money on Valentine’s gifts. In 1868, a British chocolate manufacturer designed decorated boxes of chocolates in the shape of a heart for Valentine’s Day. Until the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all types of gifts, such as jewelry.

More popular in Germany and Austria from 1950

In West Germany and Austria, Valentine’s Day became known after the Second World War through US soldiers stationed in the countries. In 1950, the first “Valentine’s Ball” was held in Nürnberg, Germany. Valentine’s Day became generally known due to the increased advertising of the floristry and confectionery industry before the 14th of February.

Church rediscovers Valentine

In 1969, the day was finally deleted from the Roman Catholic general calendar because the existence of Valentine cannot be historically proven. In the meantime, however, the church is rediscovering Valentine’s Day for itself and is taking February 14 as an opportunity for special blessing services.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you
and in case you are spending the day alone
Love yourself and pamper yourself a bit