Saint Valentine And A Brief History Of Valentine's Day
The next time you're thinking of purchasing a Valentine's Day gift for your beloved, you might want to ponder the fact that the holiday was named for an early Christian martyr named Saint Valentine. Legend has it that though Valentine was celibate himself, he secretly married young men who were forbidden to do so by a law established by the Roman Emperor Claudius II who believed that married men made for poor soldiers. Claudius had Saint Valentine arrested and it is likely that he was executed soon after.
It wasn't until the Middle ages and the Renaissance, when the idea of romantic and courtly love began to take hold that the holiday began to take on the spirit with which it is know today. A High Court of Love (it dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against women) was established in Paris on February 14, 1400. Romantic references began to appear in the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare and John Donne.
The commercial underpinnings of the holiday began when cards and verses began to appear in early 19th century England. Hand written notes on Paper Valentines became so popular that factories were established to mass-produce them. Lace and ribbons were added and, by mid-century, half the population was spending money on Valentines. Valentine's Day cards were first produced in the United States in 1847.
The practice of sending cards dominated the marketplace until the 1950s when gift giving began to become popular. A gift of flowers or candy became commonplace. Soon after, the jewelry industry began to promote Valentine's Day gifts with a special emphasis on diamonds.
Today the internet offers an added impetus to giving gifts in general and Valentine's Day in particular. Coupons, e-cards and gift ideas and promotions have all added additional opportunities and flair to one of the world's most popular holidays.
While sending cards and gift giving is the predominant way that Valentine's Day is celebrated, a number of countries have additional customs that are observed. In Lithuania and Latvia, celebrants paste stickers on their friend's faces and clothing. In India, various media outlets hold Love Letter Competitions. In many countries there are traditional variants of Valentine's Day that stem from their own cultural mythologies. Nevertheless the western version, with all its commercial trimmings, is beginning to take hold. Some Islamic countries have even banned the holiday altogether and occasionally black market sales of Valentine's Day cards and gifts have been created.
Valentine's Day is a favorite holiday for those who have someone special in their lives. When you're thinking about giving a Valentine's Day gift to that someone special this year, remember to smile up at Saint Valentine - the Christian martyr who started it all.
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