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The History of Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year, where love is celebrated across the world. A day rooted in great sentiment, where do the traditions stem from and how did Valentine’s Day begin?

Where does Valentine's Day come from?

Valentine was a priest who served in Ancient Rome and many historians believe that he is the inspiration behind the romantic day. During the third century, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage, as he believed that unmarried men made better soldiers. Valentine believed the ruling to be unjust and performed weddings in secret for young couples, keeping love alive in ancient Rome.

Many historians believe the tragic tale of a priest, Valentine, who served in Ancient Rome to be the inspiration behind the day which celebrates love. During the third century, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage, as he believed that unmarried men made better soldiers. Valentine believed the ruling to be unjust and, in the spirit of celebrating love, performed weddings in secret for young couples, keeping love alive in ancient Rome.

Tragically, his actions were discovered, and Valentine was sentenced to death on 14th February. However, fittingly for a lover of romance, it is thought that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of a jailer, writing her love letters signed ‘from your Valentine’, a tradition that lives on to this day. The heroic actions of Valentine to keep love alive in Rome are remembered as we celebrate Valentine’s Day each year..

In the Middle Ages, February 14th was thought of as the first day of Spring and marked the beginning of birds’ mating season. Geoffrey Chaucer noted it as a romantic day in the calendar in his 1375 poem, Parliament of Foules.

“For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”

Written Valentine’s began to appear in 1400 and the oldest known Valentine’s poem dates back to 1415. Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote the romantic words to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Henry V was also known to have hired a writer to help him to compose Valentine’s notes.

The legacy of Valentine's grew strong and developed over centuries, gaining popularity in the 17th century. Tokens of love in the form of handwritten notes were exchanged, which has evolved into the popular gift exchange we see today.

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