Berklee LiveWell : Saint Valentine's Day

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The history of Valentine's Day can only be sourced back to the legends and stories told over time. This holiday of love and romance can be traced back to both ancient Christian and Roman tradition.

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In third century Rome, Christians faced major persecution. Valentine was a priest that helped Christians who suffered for their beliefs, and bestowed the 7 sacraments upon them in secret. Roman Emperor Claudius II condemned single men who attempted to be married by Valentine; he wanted them to serve as soldiers. Valentine in all his nobility stood strong with his religious convictions and encouraged his fellow Christians by reminding them of God's love. Legend has it that he would cut hearts from parchment paper and deliver them to persecuted Christians, which would explain the classic icon of the modern holiday.

Valentine was eventually imprisoned by the emperor. When he refused to renounce Christianity, he was martyred on February 14, 270 AD.

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An esoteric part of the story tells of The Festival of Lupercalia, or "Wolf Festival," that was celebrated in Rome on February 15. According to Roman tradition, Roman priests would slaughter a goat and a dog to symbolize fertility and purification. Strips of the bloody hide from the sacrified animals were then used to whip the young woman. Believe it or not, the women welcomed this ritual, as they believed it would make them more fertile in the upcoming year.

In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius terminated the wild festival and February 14 was declared as St. Valentine's Day. However, there remained confusion witht the actual identity of the real Valentine, since there were at least 2 other Valentines known to be martyred in Rome at the same time-- one was a bishop in Italy, and the other a priest who married couples in secret (against Claudius II's marriage ban)--both were strangely killed on February 14th as well.

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The association between the date and lovers, though, was yet to be developed. Over time, in several different countries, poets and writers began to publish literature of love on this day. By the 18th century, St. Valentine's Day had gained much popularity in Europe and people of all socioeconomic classes were exchanging gifts of love.

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Today, the tradition of mass-produced Valentines and greeting cards begins in our neighborhood. Esther A. Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts is the woman to thank for the American Valentine industry. The story goes: she received her first Valentine in 1847 from England, and was since inspired to make her own. The "Mother of the American Valentine" formed her own company called the New England Valentine Company to distribute her personal design of Valentine's cards.