Valentine's Day is celebrated in honor of Saint Valentine of Rome, a 3rd-century priest who secretly married young couples when Emperor Claudius II forbade it. He was executed on February 14th for following his heart. This brave history explains why we celebrate love today!
Do you love getting cards with hearts or sharing candy with your best pals on February 14th? We all know Valentine’s Day is all about love and friendship, but have you ever stopped to wonder *why* we celebrate it?
This fun holiday is actually a mash-up of really old stories! It has roots in ancient Rome, a brave Christian saint, and even a famous English poet. The day we celebrate now is named after Saint Valentine, a figure from the 3rd century who was known for acts of love and compassion. While the modern version is super sweet, the history for kids about how it started has some surprisingly exciting twists and turns!
Mira says:
"It's amazing how stories from so long ago, like those about a brave priest in Rome, can still make us send cards to people we care about today! It shows that kindness never goes out of style."
What is the Story of Saint Valentine?
The biggest mystery about Valentine’s Day is figuring out *which* Saint Valentine it’s named after! Historians think there were actually a few brave people named Valentine who were honored as saints. The most popular story focuses on a Roman priest, Saint Valentine of Rome, who lived around 270 AD.
Emperor Claudius II was the ruler back then, and he had a big problem: he wanted lots of strong, fierce young men to fight in his army! He decided that young men made better soldiers if they *weren't* married or in love, so he forbade young men from getting married!
The Brave Priest Who Defied the Emperor
Saint Valentine thought this law was totally unfair! Love is important, and he believed couples should still be able to marry. So, this courageous priest started secretly performing Christian wedding ceremonies for young couples!
When Emperor Claudius II found out that Valentine was secretly helping people follow their hearts and avoiding the army, he was furious! Valentine was arrested and eventually sentenced to death. Some legends say that while he was in prison, he healed his jailer’s blind daughter, and before he was executed on February 14th, he left her a farewell note signed, “From your Valentine.”
Mind-Blowing Fact!
Even though he was a Christian martyr, the Catholic Church named February 14th as his feast day around the year 496 AD, partly to offer an alternative to an older Roman festival!
Ancient Roman Roots: The Festival of Lupercalia
Before Saint Valentine was honored, the ancient Romans celebrated a festival right around the same time, called Lupercalia! This festival took place from February 13th to the 15th.
Lupercalia wasn't about candy hearts; it was a big celebration to encourage *fertility* and health in the city. The Romans believed this festival helped their crops grow strong and made sure their animals had babies. It was a very different kind of party!
How Did Lupercalia Try to Pair People Up?
One part of the Lupercalia involved a 'lottery of love.' Young men would draw the name of a young woman from a jar. They would then spend time together for the festival, or sometimes even longer. It was a way to randomly pair people, though it wasn't always romantic love like we think of today.
💡 Did You Know?
The connection between St. Valentine and *romantic* love didn't truly become popular until the Middle Ages, around the 14th century! This is when people started talking about 'courtly love' and believed that birds chose their mates in mid-February.
From Poems to a Billion Cards: The Evolution of Giving
So, how did we get from secret weddings to giving our friends silly, pun-filled cards? It all happened over centuries!
The tradition of writing romantic letters on Valentine’s Day really took off in the 1400s. The oldest existing Valentine’s greeting was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was stuck in the Tower of London!
Estimated sent each year!
Began in the U.S.
By Necco in the U.S.
Making It Modern: The Sweet Stuff!
In the 18th century in England, people started giving small gifts like flowers and candy to show affection. Then, in the Victorian era, companies realized people loved sending these notes! Richard Cadbury released the first famous Valentine's Day candy box in 1866, making sweets a huge part of the holiday for kids (and adults!) today.
- Flowers: Red roses, the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, are super popular!
- Candy: Over 8 billion candies are made for Valentine's Day every year.
- Letters: Today, it’s the second most popular day for sending cards, right after Christmas!
🎯 Quick Quiz!
Which ancient Roman festival, celebrated in mid-February, might have influenced the timing of Valentine's Day?
Whether you think of the brave priest defying an emperor or the old Roman festival, the heart of Valentine’s Day remains the same: celebrating love, friendship, and showing appreciation for the amazing people in your life, for kids and grown-ups alike!
Questions Kids Ask About Holidays
Keep Spreading the Love!
So next time you hand a friend a heart-shaped piece of paper, remember you’re taking part in a tradition that stretches back through Roman times and medieval poetry! History is all around us, even in the sweetest holidays. Now go celebrate love and friendship!
