Valentine's Day: Everything you need to know about the holiday
From open sources
Valentine's Day has many fans and detractors. The former adore pink-plush paraphernalia and other “tenderness”, while the latter see the holiday as a marketing ploy and an element of mass culture. Whether to celebrate this holiday or not is an individual matter, but for now we will tell you where it came from
The whole world, and with it Ukraine, celebrates Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day on February 14. The holiday gained popularity in Ukraine relatively recently, about 15-20 years ago, and is now celebrated everywhere, without reference to religion, but rather as an additional reason to tell your other half about your feelings and arrange something especially romantic.
History of the holiday
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine who were murdered. One legend claims that Valentine was a priest who served in the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he banned marriage for young men. Valentin, realizing the injustice of the decree, challenged Claudius and continued to marry the lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for trying to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, the imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first Valentine after he fell in love with a young girl, possibly the daughter of his jailer. Before his death, he claimed to have written her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still used today. Although the origins of Valentine's legends are still unclear, they all emphasize him as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. During the Middle Ages, perhaps as a result of this reputation, Valentine became one of the most popular saints in England and France.
Saint Valentine From open sources
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in mid-February to mark the anniversary of the death or burial of a saint, others argue that the Christian church may have decided to place the holiday of Valentine's Day at this time in an attempt to "Christianize" the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faun, the Roman god of agriculture, and to the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.
At the beginning of the Lupercalia festival, Roman priests gathered in the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been suckled by a she-wolf. The priests sacrificed a goat and a dog, then cut the goat's skin into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and lashed passers-by with these strips. It was believed that touching the skin would bring fertility and would ensure easy childbirth for women.
At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius outlawed Lupercalia and decreed that Valentine's Day should be celebrated on February 14th. In the Middle Ages, in France and England, February 14 was considered the beginning of the mating season of birds, and over time, this day became the day of lovers and romance.
In the Roman Catholic Church of St. Valentine is officially considered the patron saint not of lovers, but of people suffering from nervous diseases: icons often depict Valentine dressed as a priest or bishop, healing a young man from epilepsy. According to church tradition, at the grave of St. Valentin, one young man, suffering from epilepsy, prayed for a long time - and recovered.
In total, Roman Catholics have 16 Saint Valentines and two Saint Valentines. In 1969, the patron saint of lovers was removed from the calendar of saints as one whose historicity was questioned. However, in modern RCC calendars, February 14 is marked as the day of remembrance of St. Valentina.
Christians of the Eastern rite honor the memory of the three Saints Valentine on May 7, July 19 and August 12. As for the holiday of February 14, the attitude towards it is ambiguous: Orthodox priests warn that it is necessary to distinguish between physical and spiritual love. The best way They consider going to the temple on this day with their significant other to prove the purity of their intentions.
At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, one of the most popular performances at home theaters was a play based on the old Kiev legend about the Kyiv lovers, who were helped to preserve their love by Saint Olga and Saint Valentine.
"Valentines"
Traditionally, on Valentine's Day, people give each other various heart-shaped treats, flowers and small souvenirs. As the chronicler Samuel Pepys wrote in the 17th century, on February 14, lovers exchanged small gifts: gloves, rings, delicacies. The constant attributes of the holiday remain “Valentines”, red roses, doves and cupids. It is believed that the first Valentine's Day greeting that survives to this day was written by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife in 1415 while imprisoned in the Tower of London after its capture at the Battle of Agincourt. A few years later, King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to write a valentine for Catherine of Valois.
From open sources
The first "Valentines" were created with my own hands. The most talented wrote acrostics, and later in Britain they began to publish collections of poems - lovers chose the best and copied them into a “Valentine”. This is where the production of “Valentines” on an industrial scale began. This idea originated with the American Esther Howland. In just one year, she sold $5,000 worth of cards.
In terms of sales, "Valentines" take first place, second only to Christmas cards. Most “Valentines” are bought by women; men “specialize” more in sweets, chocolates and bouquets of roses. Because of this, pragmatic people consider Valentine's Day to be a huge marketing ploy.
Signs
Once upon a time, girls believed in a belief: if a girl sees a robin on this day, then she is destined to marry a sailor, if a sparrow, then a poor man will sue her, with whom she will still find happiness, and the goldfinch promised a millionaire husband.
In Japan, this day is considered a holiday for men, and accordingly, gifts on February 14 are most often received by the stronger sex. Traditionally, women give men gifts (usually confectionery, chocolate, purchased or homemade) as a sign of gratitude and love. Moreover, there are two types of chocolate. The first is called giri-choco and is given to friends, colleagues and male relatives. This gift does not carry any love connotations and is perceived by the recipients as a courtesy. The second type of chocolate, the so-called hon-mei, is bought only for beloved men: husbands or boyfriends. Often this chocolate is made individually.
In Poland, on February 14, it is customary to visit the Poznan metropolis, where the relics of St. Valentine rest, and his miraculous icon hangs above the main altar. Single people making a pilgrimage to this metropolis believe that Valentine will help them find their soulmate. In addition, there is a belief that you need to ask the name of the first man an unmarried girl meets on Valentine's Day in order to find out the name of the future groom.
In Wales, before the holiday, lovers carve a spoon out of wood, decorate it with hearts, keys and keyholes and give it to each other. Such a gift literally means: “You have found a way to my heart.”
In Denmark, men send unsigned Valentine cards to their girlfriends. If the girl guesses who the sender is, she must send him a chocolate egg in return for Easter.
Valentine's Day, which is celebrated annually on February 14, has long been shrouded in various secrets and legends of its origin. Some supporters of Valentine's Day attach a romantic significance to this day, while others regard it only for commercial reasons. However, it is still worth finding out where we can get the origins and history of a well-known date.
History of Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is not only a holiday of romance, love and tenderness. According to various sources, the holiday is shrouded in many legends, and no one knows for sure whether Saint Valentine existed and whether he really gave his beloved a romantic Valentine for the first time.
Priest Valentin
According to one legend, in 269 AD. Roman Emperor Claudius II sought to conquer the whole world, but to carry out expansion he had to gather a strong army. Since family institution kept men from military service, the emperor issued a decree banning marriage during military service.
However, the young priest Valentin, who was still involved in natural sciences and medicine, did not listen to the orders of Claudius II and married the lovers in secret from everyone. When the emperor found out about this, he sentenced Valentin to death penalty. But while awaiting execution of his death sentence in prison, Valentin fell in love with the jailer’s blind daughter Julia and healed her.
Before his execution, he left her a farewell message and signed it “Your Valentine.” It is with this incredible moment and manifestation of love that both the appearance of Valentine's Day and the custom of giving valentines are associated. The priest's head was cut off, and Valentine was later canonized by the Catholic Church. In 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th Valentine's Day.
Inspirer of Christianity Valentine
According to another legend, Valentine's Day originated as a remembrance of the Christian Valentine, who was a true inspiration to others. During the secret wedding of Roman patricians (representatives of the indigenous Roman people), they were all detained.
As a member of the upper class, Valentine could avoid execution, but his servants did not have such a privilege. However, they continued to admire him and conduct secret marriage ceremonies under his protection.
Three Martyrs of Valentine
As other legends and stories report, there may have been at least three other men named Valentine who died as martyrs for the Christian faith.
The earliest Roman chronograph of the year 354 says nothing about them, but if you believe the ancient legends, then they all died no later than the year 270.
One of the Valentines was a priest and physician in Rome and died in 269 (the time of Emperor Claudius II). The second Valentine was bishop of Terni (Italy) and died in 197. The two Valentines, who died as martyrs for the Christian faith, were buried in the same cemetery (near the modern Porta del Popolo in Rome, now often called the "St. Valentine's Gate").
Saint Valentine's Gate in Rome
Subsequently, the remains of the first Valentine were kept in one of the churches in Rome, and in 1836 Pope Gregory XVI donated the remains to the church in Dublin, where they are still kept. The remains of the second Valentine are today in the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni, the city of his pastorate.
The third Valentine lived in Egypt approximately 100-153. He was a valuable candidate for the position of Bishop of Rome (i.e., Pope) and in his sermons extolled the values of marriage as the embodiment of Christian love. Almost nothing is known about the circumstances of his death and the place of burial.
Pagan roots
Also, some sources note that Valentine's Day in Christian times replaced pagan holiday Lupercalia (in honor of the god Faun, and according to another version - in honor of the goddess of marriage, the family of Juno), which was also once celebrated annually on February 14. This replacement took place in 496 by order of the same Pope Gelasius I.
But there is nothing surprising in such a practice, since the dates for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the Nativity of John Kupala, which fell on pagan festivals in honor of the winter and winter, were chosen according to this principle. summer solstice(around December 25 and July 7, respectively).
Patron of the mentally ill
In the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Valentine is officially considered not the patron saint of lovers, but the patron saint of people suffering from nervous diseases. That is why icons often depict Valentine in the clothes of a priest or bishop, who heals a young man from epilepsy or mental disorders. Back then, such people were called mentally ill.
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill
According to church tradition, at the grave of St. Valentine, one young man who suffered from epilepsy prayed for a long time and recovered.
The Disappearance of Valentine's Day
As you know, Roman Catholics have 16 Saint Valentines and two Saint Valentines. In 1969, the patron saint of lovers was removed from the calendar of saints due to questionable historical justification. Now on February 14, Roman Catholics celebrate the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, whom Pope John II proclaimed as the patron saints of Europe.
Today the UGCC celebrates February 14 as the supper of the Presentation and honoring the memory of the martyr Tryphon. The UOC also honors the memory of the martyr Tryphon, Perpetua, Satire, Satornila and others. It is believed that in Western Europe Valentine's Day has been widely celebrated since the 13th century, in the USA - since 1777.
According to the latest information, the relics of the patron saint of lovers, Saint Valentine, have been preserved for three centuries in a row in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region). The authenticity of the relic is allegedly confirmed by a document from the Pope dated 1759. As noted by Fr. Bohdan Dobryansky from the parish in Sambir, Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the Przemysl-Sambir diocese.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region)
The relics of St. Valentine in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir (Lviv region)
The history of Valentine's Day
According to legends, ancient custom Sending cards to loved ones on Valentine's Day also originated in the Middle Ages. The very first Valentine's card in the world is considered to be a note sent by Duke Charles of Orleans in 1415.
The most beloved and romantic holiday, Valentine's Day, or Valentine's Day, is usually celebrated on February 14th. This best time in order to give a beautiful chocolate gift to your chosen one, to confess your love once again, to send a love letter to your secret lover or receive such a letter, which is always nice. The holiday has millions of fans around the world; it is truly one of the most long-awaited and beautiful.
History of the holiday
Valentine's Day is one of the oldest holidays. It is believed that it is already more than 16 centuries old, but holidays honoring love are known that existed even before the advent of Christianity. The ancient Romans held a whole festival in honor of the goddess of love Juno. The festival was called Lupercalia and took place right in mid-February.
Later, in 269, the Catholic priest Valentine became the culprit in the birth of a new holiday. According to legend, the Roman government banned marriages for legionnaires. As Emperor Claudius II believed, only single legionnaires are able to devote themselves entirely to service. Valentin began to help couples in love, secretly conduct wedding ceremonies, and reconcile quarreling lovers.
When the authorities found out about this, Valentin was taken into custody and sentenced to execution. The young man himself was secretly in love with the jailer's daughter. He sent her a letter of confession, which was read after his execution. Subsequently, as a Christian martyr who suffered for the faith, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th Valentine's Day.
In the second half of the 3rd century AD, a priest named Valentine lived in the Italian city of Terni. The young Christian was kind and sympathetic; in his free time from preaching, he practiced medicine and helped people. At that time, the vast Roman Empire was ruled by Emperor Claudius II, a sworn pagan and a great lover of war with rebellious neighbors. Noticing that the once valiant and courageous legionnaires, eager for battle themselves, began to devote much more time to their families, children and household chores, the emperor did not think of anything other than to issue a completely insane law.
“From now on, men do not have the right to marry, since the thoughts of a married warrior are not occupied with what they should be!” - Claudius said and that’s it. The townspeople, of course, grumbled, but they did not contradict the first person in the state. However, His Majesty’s simple plan was in no hurry to be put into practice. Instead of thinking about the good of the empire, which had already safely entered a period of decline, and fighting unnecessary wars for no one but the emperor, the soldiers, as before, fell in love with charming Roman women and married them, only now secretly. And brave Valentin, without fear of the imperial wrath, crowned the legionnaires in love. Moreover, sometimes he helped tongue-tied warriors to correctly compose love letters, and if they quarreled with their passions, he would certainly reconcile them. The priest conducted the ceremonies at his home. In the twilight, by the light of a single candle, the bride and groom took an oath of love and fidelity, listening to every rustle. Concealing a wedding in a small town was no easier than hiding an awl in a bag, so soon alarming rumors began to reach the emperor. The law-abiding patricians, literally obsessed with Roman law, could not tolerate such insolence, of course. Clouds gathered over Valentine, and at the end of 269, the imperial guard burst into the priest’s house. Fortunately, the couple that Valentin was dating at that moment managed to escape. The arrested man was shackled and thrown into prison. It didn't take long for the enraged Claudius to sign his death warrant.
Last days The priest spent time in prayer and tried not to lose heart. Many people passed by the prison in which Valentin was imprisoned, all of them sympathized with the priest, tried their best to support him - notes with words of gratitude and flowers were constantly flying out of the cell window. One of the visitors of the famous prisoner was the daughter of a prison guard. Having heard a touching story about secret marriages, Julia was fascinated by Valentin’s courage and immediately fell in love with him, although she did not have the opportunity to look at her chosen one - the girl was blind from birth. Not daring to break the celibacy dinner, Valentin did not reciprocate her feelings, but on the day of his execution, he sent her a short letter with a declaration of love and the signature “From Valentin.” This is where the tradition of giving valentines came from. According to legend, after receiving a Valentine's card, the warden's daughter instantly regained her sight. Valentine was executed on February 14, 269. The Church named him the Holy Great Martyr, and the lovers made him their patron. On the same day, the entire Roman Empire celebrated the holiday of the goddess of love and marriage, Juno - also a kind of pagan Valentine's Day.
They say that every spring, at the tomb of St. Valentine, near one of the Roman churches, a pink almond tree blooms - a symbol of true love.
Almost everyone will celebrate Valentine's Day. After all, this is a holiday of love that the whole world knows about. Although the traditions of Valentine's Day may differ in some countries, its meaning and main purpose are always the same. At first glance, it may seem that this story of Valentine's Day is completely uninteresting and reading this article is pointless. But this is not at all true, because the number of legends about the origin of the celebration and everything connected with them is quite surprising.
By the way, we have already written about how to make a gift with your own hands not on Valentine’s Day.
How Valentine's Day came to be, read further in our material.
If you don’t dig too hard, you can find literally 2-3 legends about the origin of Valentine’s Day. Despite the fact that they are the most common, not everyone has even heard of their existence. Read more about it.
Valentine's Day: history of the holiday
According to one of the ancient legends, biblical by the way, Valentine's Day appeared around the 5th century AD. But the events that served as the foundation of Valentine's Day happened even earlier.
In the 3rd century, Rome was ruled by Emperor Claudius, who, like his predecessors, sought to conquer the whole world. Of course, he didn’t have enough army for this, so he issued an order that will seem too cruel now.
Claudius forbade all priests from marrying young couples, and people under 20 from having children. At that time, this was often done even earlier. Despite all these prohibitions and the fear of execution, a young priest named Valentin secretly married young people at night. Of course, everything secret becomes clear at some point, and this case was no exception.
Valentin was caught and sentenced to death. He spent some time in prison, awaiting execution of the sentence. And during this time he managed to meet the young daughter of the prison guard, whose name was Julia. The girl was blind, so she could not see her lover. Before the execution, the young priest left the girl a note on which was written “Your Valentine,” and it was thanks to this that the girl was healed and began to see again.
They decided to canonize Valentine only two hundred years later. in 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 (the priest's birthday) as St. Valentine's Day.
According to another legend, Valentine's Day arose as a memory of the Roman patrician Valentin. Despite his high position, he was a secret Christian and converted all his servants to the new faith and sometimes performed weddings.
He was caught once, right during the trial. Of course, thanks to his status, Valentin could avoid execution, but the other two could not. Valentin tried to somehow reduce their suffering and began to send them hearts that symbolized Christian love. A blind girl was supposed to deliver them.
On the eve of his execution, Valentin managed to persuade the guards to take his life in exchange for those who were to be executed. The last thing he managed to do in life was to give the blind girl a letter that was consecrated. And thanks to him, the girl regained her sight.
See how Valentine's Day came to be
These are the two legends of the origin of Valentine's Day 2018. They are, of course, very similar and do not look like the truth. But many people believe it.
How Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world
If we already know the date and history of the holiday, then let’s understand a little about the traditions of the holiday, because different countries they are a little different.
Read what you can cook on Valentine's Day.
It must be said right away that Valentine’s Day appeared relatively recently in Ukraine, although it almost instantly became incredibly popular.
But in the rest of Europe, Valentine's Day has been celebrated since the 18th century.
Let's remember how Valentine's Day is celebrated in our country. Of course, there are a huge number of couples in love that can be met in any restaurant, and almost all stores have huge promotions, because you need to buy gifts for the holiday. Almost every child who studies at elementary school carries there a pre-prepared valentine. And some even host holiday concerts.
But in other countries everything is a little different from the conventional Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa. And let's find out why.
In England, for example, valentines are sent not only to loved ones, but also to all relatives, friends, acquaintances and even pets. By the way, there is also a rather interesting tradition for unmarried girls. It is believed that they should get up at dawn and look out the window. The first man they see will be their betrothed.
And of course, we can’t help but mention Valentine’s Day in Germany. After all, many have probably heard that February 14 is not celebrated there as Valentine’s Day, but as the Day of the Mentally Ill. And it's true. But only opponents of St. Valentine think so, and there are many fewer of them than couples in love.
In France, only jewelry should be given on Valentine's Day.
But in Denmark, people send dried white flowers to each other.
But Saudi Arabia, as always, distinguished itself. There, Valentine's Day is completely prohibited, and if you celebrate it, you can get a rather large fine.
But the traditions of the holiday in Italy are quite different from other countries. There, Valentine's Day is called the day of sweets, and you yourself understand how it is celebrated.
Find out how the world celebrates Valentine's Day
As you can see, there is a lot of interesting things here and Valentine’s Day is indeed celebrated almost all over the world. Let's take a look at the history of its origins and find out how and when Valentine's Day actually appeared.
When did Valentine's Day begin?
If we have already talked about the legends of the holiday, because it is difficult to name biblical stories in any other way, now it’s time to remember the real historical facts that could serve as the foundation of St. Valentine’s Day.
Very often, the origin of Valentine's Day is associated with the ancient Roman holiday of Lupercalia. This celebration was celebrated in honor of the goddess of “feverish” love Juno Februata and the god Faun.
By the way, information about this holiday is quite contradictory. But historians insist that Lupercalia appeared due to the high mortality rate among children in ancient Rome. Then the city could simply die out. Then there were quite a lot of people who simply could not have children and they were considered cursed.
But the place where, according to legend, the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus was considered sacred. Therefore, once a year, most likely on February 14, grandiose festivities were held there, which were supposed to increase the birth rate in Rome. As a matter of fact, they succeeded in everything. That is why, when Christianity appeared, this holiday could not be canceled for a long time.
It is quite difficult to say exactly what date Lupercalia was celebrated. In 494, Pope Gelasius I tried to ban Lupercalia. But it was quite difficult to do this. Some historians say that this is why Valentine's Day was created. But all that can be said for sure is that Pope Gelasius only put an end to the celebration of Lupercalia in Rome.
Find out more in this video
If now the history of the appearance and origin of the celebration and when it will be approximately clear to us, then now we can talk a little about the symbols and legends of the holiday. After all, they are also quite interesting.
Valentine's Day: legends and symbols of the holiday
Well, if we have more or less figured out the historical factors, and we already roughly understand when and how this holiday appeared, not according to religious beliefs, but according to historical facts, then now we can learn a little about the legends of St. Valentine’s Day.
There are actually only two legends here, which we have already told you about. The only difference is in the name and small nuances. They all appeared in the late Middle Ages in France and England.
Golden Legend tells us the story of Valentin, who was a field doctor and priest (there were many such people at that time). And Emperor Claudius, already familiar to us, decided that men who were not burdened by marriage and children fought many times better. Well, that’s why marriages were prohibited. But our hero, Valentin, being a very kind and believing person, secretly sanctified the marriage at night. Well, the rest of the story is already known, he was caught and killed. By the way, it was thanks to this legend that Pope Gelasius established Valentine's Day.
The second legend has no name, but the main character is also called Valentin. He lived in Rome during pagan times, but was secretly faithful to Christianity. He was quite famous and had many servants, whom he also converted to the new faith. But one day this was noticed and his servants were sentenced to death. And Valentin's high rank allowed him to avoid execution. Legend has it that he began sending small heart-shaped cards to the prison to cheer up his servants. But in the end, he managed to agree that he himself would be executed instead of the servants.
Valentines are the main symbols of the holiday. There are two legends about their origin. We have already told you the first: it was precisely those postcards that Valentin sent to his servants that were the first.
Read best congratulations Happy Valentine's Day.
And the second legend says that the first symbols of the holiday appeared when Lupercalia was celebrated in ancient Rome. The girls then wrote small notes and threw them into a special trash can, from where the men took them out and then ran to look for the girl. Nowadays, Valentine's Day is, of course, celebrated differently, but the similarities can be seen with the naked eye.
