Valentine’s Day is a widely celebrated holiday, and it is known as the holiday of love. Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with the gift of love, candy, chocolate, or flowers. This year, 2026, Valentine’s day falls on Saturday, February 14th.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Great Britain. Americans most likely started giving hand-made cards around the early 1700s. By the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange gifts, and letters or cards.
During the middle ages, a common belief around France and England was that February 14th was the beginning of bird’s mating season, which added to the belief that Valentine’s day is the holiday of love.
The exact origin of Valentine’s day is unknown, there are many beliefs and legends tracing back to the holiday and St.Valentine. Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for over 1,500 years. It has some origins tracing back to a Roman festival in the 5th century. It also has some ancient Christian traditions.
One legend of St. Valentine states that he was a priest in 3rd century Rome. Emperor Claudius II outlawed the marriage of young men, believing that young men made better soldiers than husbands. Valentine disagreed, and continued to marry young men in secret. The Emperor found out about his actions, and ordered for his execution. Another legend states that St. Valentine was a bishop, and he was also executed by Emperor Claudius II for defiance.
Some people believe that Valentine’s day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the death or burial of St. Valentine. While others believe that it’s celebrated in the middle of February to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, a festival dedicated to Fanus, the god of agriculture.
Cupid is another widely known symbol for love and Valentine’s Day. Cupid is often depicted as a young child or man in a diaper who shoots his arrows at lovers, but his roots actually trace back to the Roman God Cupid-and the Roman god has roots tracing back to the Greek God of love, Eros. The god Eros’s parents are said to be Nyx and Erebus, others claim he is the son of Aphrodite and Ares. Eros is also said to be an immortal who played with the emotions of men with golden arrows.
Giving Valentine’s greetings traces back as far as the middle ages, though written Valentine’s gifts weren’t really seen or popular until about 1400. The oldest Valentine known today is a poem written by Charles, the duke of Orleans, to give to his wife. Now, we see many more written Valentines, and giving presents and gifts to the people we love.
