St. Valentine's Day

St Valentine’s Day – How it all started

Roman origin 

The Romans used to celebrate the return of spring at the beginning of February with the feast of Lupercalia, in honour of the gods Pan and Juno.

Boys used to draw lots for the names of unmarried girls. They also used to run through the streets whipping any pretty girls that they passed! Lupercalia was, by all accounts, a lively occasion.

 When the Romans settled in Britain, they brought these traditions with them. But when Christianity arrived, it was thought best to put a stop to Lupercalia.

Christian changes

The Christians always cleverly replaced pagan festivals with Christian ones, and February l4th was named as the Saint's day of Valentine, a Roman priest who was executed in AD 269 for refusing to worship his emperor, Claudius II.

Valentine had nothing to do with lovers, but the tradition of February l4th as a date associated with romance carried on. In medieval England it was believed that it was the day when birds chose their mates.

Sending cards tradition

Certainly, the more riotous aspects of Lupercalia went for good, but it became a tradition for hopeful lovers to send each other gifts. Gradually, cards replaced gifts.

Partly, the idea was that young ladies could send cards to young gentlemen hinting that a proposal of marriage might not be unsuccessful. But of course men also sent Valentine cards, and the fact that they were anonymous made rejection more bearable.

Over the years it has become multi-million pound industry, and is now celebrated all over the world. About fifteen million cards are sent every year in Britain only.