By Kaylee Reynolds
Jan 28, 2026
One may wonder what Valentine’s Day is truly about and how it came to be. It is now most known as the holiday where people make cards, baskets, and even dress up for this red and pink themed holiday about love. In this article, I am setting out to define what originally started this tradition and holiday.
We begin with the legend of St. Valentine. Who is he and why is he associated with this well-known holiday?
An often-recited legend says that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. At the time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those who were married. Therefore, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, defying against the law, wed young couples in secret. Unfortunately, once he was discovered for his actions, Claudius had him executed. Yet despite this being one end of the breadcrumb trail many other stories suggest different outcomes other than execution for Valentine.
This holiday originates from a pagan festival celebrated in February. People say this holiday began back in A.D. 270, while others believe that Valentine’s Day was an attempt to “Christianize” a pagan tradition. Another well-known celebration would be Lupercalia, a celebration of fertility. To begin this, members of the Luperci gathered at a cave where infants, Romulus and Remus, the Roman founders were believed to be cared for by a “she-wolf” or “lupa” took place. Priests would then sacrifice a goat and a dog. One for fertility and the other for purification. The hides and blood were then used for sacrificial and ceremonial purposes. Roman women were gently marked by these hides as they believed by being marked their fertility would increase. Later the celebration, Lupercalia was outlawed at the end of the 5th century after it was deemed “un-Christian”.
Transitioning into the meaning of Valentine’s Day, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day. It then became affiliated with love soon after. Valentine’s day greetings were just as popular as they are today as they were in the Middle Ages. Although, notes weren’t
popularized until the 1400s. Another fun fact is that in France and England is that February 14th is the beginning of bird’s mating season, adding to the sense of romance.
So, in conclusion to this I’d say that this holiday is definitely one for the books and is still a very fun, lovely, and engaging celebration amongst those who are both single and in a relationship. Love is in fact in the air so get out there and enjoy it. If you’re lucky, Cupid might strike you with his arrow!
Image created by Kaylee Reynolds
