What Is The History Of Valentine’s Day?
What is the history of valentine’s day, really? It begins in ancient Rome, moves through the Church calendar and the legends of Saint Valentine, then gathers romance in the Middle Ages before becoming the card-and-chocolate holiday we know today.
by Esme Addison
When I think of Valentine’s Day, three distinct memories come to mind. First, the childhood ritual of exchanging Valentine’s cards at school. There was always the pressure of choosing the right cartoon-themed cards, decorating a shoebox mailbox, and addressing cards to friends and that one cute boy elementary-school me thought I was crushing on.
Second, my parents always gave me and my siblings a small heart-shaped box of chocolates or a box of chocolate-covered cherries. Third, my parents would get dressed up and go out for a romantic dinner. My sons are in high school now, so we are well past the days of school Valentines. Do kids still do that? I still get them a sweet treat on the day.
These traditions, both big and small, reflect how Valentine’s Day is woven into personal and family traditions. But the story of this holiday is much older and more complex than cards and candy.
So what is the history of valentines day, really, beyond the shoebox mailboxes and heart-shaped chocolates?
Ancient Origins
Valentine’s Day’s earliest roots can be traced to ancient Rome and the festival of Lupercalia. Celebrated from February 13th to 15th, Lupercalia was dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and to Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. The festival was intended to purify the city and promote fertility as spring approached.
Lupercalia’s rituals were both symbolic and physical. Priests known as Luperci would sacrifice goats and a dog, then cut strips of goat hide, dip them in sacrificial blood, and run through the streets, gently striking women and crops. This act was believed to bring fertility and ease childbirth. Another part of the festival included a matchmaking lottery, where young men drew the names of women from a jar, pairing up for the festival and sometimes forming longer-lasting relationships.
With the spread of Christianity, such pagan festivals came under scrutiny. By the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I banned Lupercalia. In its place, the Church established the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14, possibly as a way to Christianize and redirect the popular midwinter celebration.
The Legend Of Saint Valentine
The origins of Valentine’s Day’s namesake sit in that hazy place where early Christian history meets later storytelling. More than one martyr named Valentine appears in the record, most often a Valentine linked to Rome and another linked to Interamna, now Terni. Over the centuries, retellings blurred the edges, and what began as separate figures gradually collected into a single, familiar saint.
That is where the best-known stories live. One tradition says Valentine quietly married young couples in defiance of Emperor Claudius II. Another says he was condemned for aiding Christians during persecution. The beloved image of Valentine sending a farewell message to a jailer’s daughter, signed “from your Valentine,” belongs to the same layer of later legend. These details are not confirmed by contemporary evidence, but they shaped the saint’s afterlife in the public imagination.
The Catholic Roots Of The Holiday
Long before the day carried hearts and lace, it lived on the Church calendar as a feast. By the early medieval period, February 14 was observed in Western Christianity as Saint Valentine’s Day. Later tradition often credits Pope Gelasius I, in the late fifth century, with formalizing the date, but the historical paper trail is not perfectly clear. What is clear is that the feast began as a religious observance, not a celebration of romance.
The love story arrived later, stitched on by the Middle Ages. Writers and poets began linking the season to courtship and courtly love, and the day followed literature into popular custom. Centuries after those medieval associations took hold, the Church revised its universal calendar. In 1969, Saint Valentine was removed from the General Roman Calendar due to uncertainty around the historical details, though he remains recognized as a saint and may still be commemorated locally.
Medieval European Roots
The link between Valentine’s Day and romantic love appears in the Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1382 poem “Parliament of Fowls” is often credited as the first literary work to connect the feast of Saint Valentine to the idea of birds (and by extension, people) choosing mates. This poetic association helped transform the day into one of courtship and affection, first among the nobility and later throughout society.
By the 15th century, the exchange of love notes and poems on Valentine’s Day was well established in England and France. Charles, Duke of Orléans, wrote romantic verses to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in the early 1400s. These handwritten messages are among the earliest surviving valentines.
The tradition spread from the aristocracy to the middle and working classes over the next several centuries. By the 17th and 18th centuries, exchanging small gifts and handwritten notes became common in England. These early valentines were often poetic, sometimes playful, and occasionally direct in their declarations of love.
From Handwritten Notes To Mass Production
Valentine’s Day was brought to America by British colonists, but it did not become widely celebrated until the mid-19th century. Early American observances resembled those in England, with handwritten notes and small tokens exchanged among friends and sweethearts. The holiday’s popularity grew as the postal service expanded, making it easier to send valentines across distances.
A turning point came in the 1840s with the work of Esther Howland, who is often called the “Mother of the American Valentine.” Howland began producing elaborate, lace-trimmed cards in Worcester, Massachusetts, using imported paper and decorations. Her business was an instant success, and mass-produced valentines soon became a national phenomenon.
By the late 19th century, millions of valentines were exchanged in the United States each year. The cards ranged from sentimental to humorous, and some included puzzles or games. The commercialization of Valentine’s Day accelerated in the 20th century, with the addition of boxed chocolates, flowers, and other gifts promoted by retailers.
Classroom Valentines: An American Tradition
One of the most enduring and uniquely American Valentine’s Day customs is the classroom exchange. By the early 20th century, schools across the country had adopted the practice of students bringing in valentines to share with classmates. Children decorated shoeboxes to serve as mailboxes and spent hours addressing cards, often featuring cartoon characters or playful puns, to everyone in the class.
This ritual was designed to foster inclusion and kindness, though it sometimes brought its own anxieties about popularity and friendship. Over time, the tradition has evolved, with many schools encouraging or requiring students to bring a valentine for every classmate. The classroom exchange remains a nostalgic memory for generations of Americans and continues in many schools today.
The Evolution Of Romantic Traditions
Valentine’s Day has long been associated with courtship and romantic gestures. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, couples exchanged tokens such as flowers, sweets, and handwritten notes. Dances, dinners, and outings became popular ways to celebrate. The language of love in valentines ranged from poetic to playful, and the holiday provided a socially acceptable occasion for expressing affection.
The 20th century saw the rise of new traditions, including the giving of jewelry. The influence of advertising and popular culture expanded the range of gifts and experiences associated with the holiday. Today, Valentine’s Day is marked by everything from lavish gifts to simple, heartfelt gestures.
Heart-Shaped Boxes
Chocolate became a common Valentine’s Day gift in the late nineteenth century, when improvements in chocolate production made it more affordable. In 1861, Richard Cadbury introduced heart-shaped boxes filled with assorted chocolates. These boxes were decorated with flowers and cupids and were often kept as keepsakes after the chocolates were gone.
American candy makers quickly adopted the idea. By the early twentieth century, companies like Hershey’s and Russell Stover were selling boxed chocolates specifically for Valentine’s Day. Advertisements promoted chocolate as a thoughtful gift, and the heart-shaped box became a familiar symbol of the holiday.
Giving chocolates is now a standard Valentine’s tradition. The heart-shaped box remains a popular choice, and chocolate continues to be one of the most exchanged gifts each year.
Modern Commercialization Of Valentine’s Day
By the early twentieth century, Valentine’s Day had become a major commercial holiday in the United States. Greeting card companies such as Hallmark and American Greetings introduced new designs each year and promoted card exchanges through national advertising campaigns. Candy makers, including Russell Stover and Hershey’s, marketed boxed chocolates specifically for the holiday, with Russell Stover launching its first heart-shaped box in the 1920s. Florists promoted red roses as the signature flower, while jewelry stores and department stores expanded the range of gifts associated with the occasion.
The growth of radio and television advertising allowed brands to reach a national audience. Retailers created elaborate window displays and ran print ads to encourage gift-giving. Restaurants began offering Valentine’s Day specials, and the holiday became linked to a wide variety of gifts and experiences. Consumer demand, advances in printing and manufacturing, and mass marketing all contributed to the steady rise in spending.
By the late twentieth century, Valentine’s Day was one of the busiest retail periods of the year, with annual sales reaching into the billions of dollars. Similar trends developed in other English-speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom and Canada, where companies also mass-produced valentines and promoted chocolates and flowers for the holiday. However, the scale and variety of commercialization in the United States set the standard and influenced how Valentine’s Day was marketed worldwide.
Valentine’s Day has traveled a long road from ancient Roman festivals to the exchange of cards and candy in modern America. Its history is shaped by ritual, religion, literature, and commerce. At its core, the holiday endures because it offers a chance to express affection and appreciation. Whether through a handwritten note or a simple gesture, Valentine’s Day remains a reminder of the value of connection.
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