We celebrate it every year; it's an opportunity to exchange gifts, sweet words, or even declare one's love for some, but ultimately where does the lovers' holiday come from?
Les Petits Prödiges decipher for you the different theories on the matter.
Saint Valentine
The first origin of Valentine's Day dates back to 270. At the time, Emperor Claudius II had forbidden marriages for fear that men would refuse to go to war to stay with their fiancées. Saint Valentine, a priest of that era, was condemned to death for continuing to consecrate marriages despite this prohibition. He thus died defending love! (Rather extreme, but definitely romantic!)
The Lupercalia
Another theory is that Valentine's Day appeared after the Lupercalia, fertility festivals in ancient Rome. At the time, the big event of the day was the race of the Luperci: men ran through the city and hit women with thongs made of goat skin (sacrificed for the occasion), which was meant to ensure them a pregnancy within the year. Of course!
These festivals were banned in 494 (phew!) and replaced by a feast of purification (Candlemas) and of love and fertility (Valentine's Day). And we are very happy about this change!
Valentinage
In the 14th century in the English aristocracy, this custom involved forming couples at random for a day. They then had to court each other, show small attentions to each other, give each other gifts... many couples were formed this way!
The Lovers' Day
Since 1496, Pope Alexander VI officially designated Saint Valentine as the Patron Saint of Lovers. The protection of this Patron Saint then applied especially to singles looking for love. The festivities of St. Valentine's Day were an opportunity to find one's soulmate through many activities such as hide-and-seek games where single young women would hide to be found by the single men of the village. Couples were then formed, whether for the evening or for life!
Nature
The last legend dates from the 14th century, in England. It was then believed that February 14th was the beginning of the mating season for birds! Lovers then "cooed" by sending each other love poems. This tradition was brought to France by Charles d'Orléans who officially instituted this custom at the French court in the 15th century.
In any case, whatever its true origin, this day remains an opportunity to celebrate love and we love that! Happy Valentine's Day to all 💕
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