The Religious History of Valentine's Day

On February 14th Valentine's Day will be in full effect with roses and boxes of chocolate. This “Hallmark holiday” is loved by many, yet equally hated by those who have to spend it alone. But why is this holiday relevant? Who is St. Valentine? Although there is no official re

cord of the origin, it is believed to have begun in Rome.

According to NPR, “From Feb. 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain.” It was apparently believed that the beating of these women would make them more “fertile”, with the rest of the day was spend testing that theory. Thus a day of love and lovemaking ensued. This insane belief, coupled with the execution of two men on February 14th, both coincidentally named Valentine, gave rise to “St. Valentine’s Day.” The Catholic Church chose to honor their martyrdom with a day celebrating them.

NPR goes on to explain how Catholicism make this holiday possible. They stated “Pope Gelasius I muddled things in the 5th century by combining St. Valentine's Day with Lupercalia to expel the pagan rituals. But the festival was more of a theatrical interpretation of what it had once been.”

And since then the holiday stuck, as a day full of love supported by the church. Although Valentine’s Day is not known as a “religious holiday”, it does have roots that date back to the 3rd Century with pagan beliefs, and later fostered by the Catholic Church.