The History of Valentine’s Day
Source: indianexpress.com
Valentine’s Day is one of the most awaited days, especially by lovers, which falls on the 14th day of February. On Valentine’s Day, many people usually celebrate it by going out with their partners, giving chocolates to each other, or even giving flowers to each other. The lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day with the hope that their relationship can become closer. Here are several theories regarding the appearances of Valentine’s Day.
- The Legend of St. Valentine
Source: catholic.org
Source: livius.org
Based on history, it all started in the 3rd century A.D. When Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius Augustus A.K.A. Claudius II leads Rome as an emperor, he is a vicious emperor. He wanted to make his country always win in a battle, so he decided to ban marriage for young men in Rome, he thought his army unwilling to go to the battlefield because they were attached with their family, he thought single man would be better in battlefield compared to old men who are already married, St. Valentine did not agree with the emperor’s policy, he secretly helps young couples who want to get married. Unfortunately, his actions were caught by the emperor. St. Valentine was sentenced to death on February 14th. Before his punishment, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the prison guard’s daughter which contains “From Your Valentine”, this event becomes popular and because of his martyr, the church makes a celebration for St. Valentine on February 14th which we have known as Valentine’s Day.
- The Lupercalia Festival
Source: mentalfloss.com
Lupercalia is an ancient Roman festival. The festival was held at Lupercal and sacrificed a goat and a dog. At the Lupercalia festival, some athletes will run through the street and whipping everyone they meet in the street. Some women even volunteered to be whipped because they believed it would bring fertility to them. In 494, Pope Gelasius I forbade everyone to participate in the festival and replaced the Lupercalia festival with St. Valentine Day that was celebrated on 14th February.
Those are several theories behind Valentine’s Day. Unlike Valentine’s Day, the theory and story behind that holiday is not as lovely as Valentine’s Day itself and turns out to be quite surprising.
Reference:
https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day
https://news.detik.com/berita/d-4427963/sejarah-dan-legenda-di-balik-hari-valentine
https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari_Kasih_Sayang
https://www.indozone.id/fakta-dan-mitos/6gsYmd/sejarah-asal-usul-valentine/read-all
https://www.thoughtco.com/valentine-day-special-1991215
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/572191/lupercalia-ancient-roman-festival-facts
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lupercalia
Source Image:
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159
https://www.livius.org/articles/person/claudius-ii/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/572191/lupercalia-ancient-roman-festival-facts