Photo courtesy of National Geographic


Valentine's Day is just around the corner and some disaffected individuals think of the heart themed day as a fake holiday, as essentially nothing more than a "Hallmark holiday," something created, promoted and sustained by commercial interests.

What are the roots of Valentine's Day?

Which of the following is true? The roots of Valentine's Day can be found in:

A.  Roman festivals where men stripped naked, grabbed goat-skin whips, and spanked young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility
B.  A priest performing marriages in secret
C.  An imprisoned Duke, sending sentiments of love and devotion to his wife
D.  A, B and C
E.  Hallmark

If you chose D, you're right. The roots of Valentine's Day, as we celebrate it today, can be found in A, B and C.

The origins of Valentine's Day go all the way back to the ancient festival of Lupercalia which was celebrated in Rome before the inception of Christianity.

Feast of the She Wolf

Lupercalia ( the "feast of the she wolf") was a very raucous Roman pastoral festival, observed on February 13 through February 15 to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility. During the festival, men stripped naked, grabbed goat- or dog-skin whips, and spanked young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility.

Historians suggest that this festival was given a Christian veneer and associative acceptable story (that of the martyred Saint Valentine) in accordance with the practice of Christianization of pagan holidays.

The tale of St. Valentine

According to the story, in the third century A.D. Roman Emperor Claudius II, in an attempt to bolster his army, forbade young men to marry. It is said that Valentine, a priest in Rome, flouted the ban performing marriages in secret.

For his defiance, Valentine was executed in A.D. 270—on February 14, the story goes. He was subsequently canonized.

According to History.com:

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailer's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Over the years, St Valentine has come to be associated, incorrectly, with finding love. Britain's Roman Catholic Church says that St. Valentine is the patron saint for those who have already found their soul mate.

Britain's Roman Catholic Church is advising lovelorn singles to direct their February 14 requests for love to St. Raphael, rather than St.Valentine. St. Raphael is the patron saint for happy encounters and prayers asking to find love should properly be directed to him, according to the church.

An imprisoned Duke and Valentine's Day cards

According to History.com, the first Valentine's Day card was sent in 1415 from France's Duke of Orléans to his wife when he was a prisoner in the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt.

The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures.

It wasn't until 1913 that Hallmark got in the Valentine business.

Romantic love modifies behavior

National Geographic has a video about the brain science behind:
• Sex drive
• Romantic love (obsession, passion, infatuation)
• Attachment (calmness and security with a long-term partner)

Check out the video that discusses that and also the way that romantic love modifies behavior here.

Anti-valentines

Some people hate Valentine's Day and devote the day to anti-valentine sentiments and activities: throw parties that have cupcakes that say things like "you suck, " "everyone stalks" and " I broken heart you." They break candy hearts and write bad love songs and love poems, wear black and win prizes for the worst love story.

The real deal

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is a real holiday that has deep roots in the past and continues to thrive today.