Every year, February 14 is celebrated as the day of love and romance in memory of Valentine’s Day. On this day, we share and express our emotions by giving specially chosen gifts, greetings, and flowers. The feeling of Valentine’s Day fills us with unexpected warmth and joy. But do you know how, why and when it started? Let’s explore the history of Valentine’s Day to make it even more special and meaningful.

According to the Catholic Church, there were three saints named Valentine who were martyred in the name of divine love.

Saint who performs secret weddings:

When Emperor Claudius II restricted the marriages of young men because he believed that single men performed better in the army than those with wives and families, a saint named Valentine opposed this. He defied the outrageous law and continued to perform secret marriages for young couples. When the secret was opened, he was imprisoned and murdered.

First Valentine’s Day greeting:

Another legend says that Roman emperors, even after three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ, were forcing people to worship Roman gods. When a Christian priest named Valentine continued to practice Christianity, he was imprisoned. There he performed a miracle by giving sight to the blind daughter of the jailer. For following Christianity and doing the miracle, he was executed on February 14. The day before his death, he sent a farewell letter to the girl, signing ‘From your Valentine’. It was the first Valentine’s greeting, which established a tradition of sending greetings, love quotes, and poems to loved ones. Today in America, more than a billion cards are sent each year on Valentine’s Day.

Why February?

Saint Valentine was believed to have been executed on February 14. To remember him and his love teachings, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on this date. Another story says that the Romans celebrate the harvest festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February 15. The festival was dedicated to the Roman god of fertility and the founders of the Roman Empire. Celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14 was the Christian effort to ‘Christianize’ the pagan holiday.

In the Middle Ages, it was considered that birds began to mate from February 14. So it was related to love and romance anyway.

Gifts

People not only use greetings, but also acquire numerous gifts to express their emotions. While flowers, candy, chocolates, plush gifts, and gift baskets are the usual gifts, many people even choose fine yellow gold sapphire rings, gemstone earrings, watches, holiday packages, and many gifts. luxurious to make it a treasured event of the year.

People also considered it an auspicious day for engagement and wedding. Little by little, proposing on Valentine’s Day is becoming a trend. Like Christmas and New Years, it is another important day to create important moments.