Valentine’s Day Traditions – How Did We Get Here?
Yes, today is Valentine’s Day (don’t worry, Dollar General probably still has a card and some cheap flowers if you forgot), and while you and your sweetheart (if you have one) are reading cards, going out to dinner, or pounding chocolate squares filled with mysterious ingredients by the fist-full, you may be thinking – “where did all of these traditions come from”?
Holiday Origins
As with most holidays, the origins of the holiday are a mixed bag. There were many Christian martyrs named “Valentine”, but the ones we celebrate on February 14th were Roman in origin. Pope Gelasius I added the holiday to the church calendar in the year 496. Although many legends and stories surround his sainthood, one of the most often told (and related to the holiday) is that when he was a bishop, Valentine performed clandestine weddings for Roman soldiers, who were by law – forbidden to marry. He could be identified by a small purple ring he wore with an image of Cupid emblazoned on it.[1]
Exchanging Cards With Romantic Verses
Romantic poetry related to Valentine’s Day began showing up in the 15th Century, and even Shakespeare makes references to it in his plays. In 1797, a British publisher issued a book that contained sentimental verses for young men to copy and pass on to their sweethearts. A reduction in postal rates also made the sending of paper verses and sketches so popular that many Valentine’s Day cards began being produced in mass factories.[2] Today, the U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. When counting small cards that are traditionally exchanged in school activities, this figure goes up to over 1 billion, with school teachers receiving the most valentines each year.
Chocolates
In 1868, the Cadbury candy company in Great Britain began marketing decorated boxes of chocolates called “Fancy Boxes”.[3] Giving chocolates quickly became associated with the holiday, and has extended to all kinds of gifts, jewelry, stuffed animals, and other trinkets. Today, it is estimated that over 58 million pounds of chocolate are sold each year for Valentine’s Day, packaged in over 36 million heart-shaped boxes.[4]
Roses
The early popularization of the practice of sending roses (to symbolize love and affection) is credited to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, the wife of a British ambassador to Turkey in the 18th century. She noticed the locals sending flowers as a secret way of expressing their affection, and brought the practice home to England in 1716. Today, over 250 million are grown annually specifically for the holiday.[5]
Do you have a Valentine’s tradition you share with your sweetheart that isn’t mentioned above? Drop me a line in the comment section and let me know.
Have a great day, lovers!
[1] Wikipedia contributors, “Valentine’s Day,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valentine%27s_Day&oldid=1071143614 (accessed February 11, 2022).
[2] Wikipedia contributors, “Valentine’s Day,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valentine%27s_Day&oldid=1071143614 (accessed February 11, 2022).
[3] Mintz, Sidney (2015). The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. Oxford University Press. p. 157.
[4] WHEC.com online article, “Consumer Alert: Want sweets for your sweets this Valentine’s Day? You should know more about chocolate before you buy”, published 2/8/22, accessed 2/11/22, “https://www.whec.com/news/consumer-alert-want-sweets-for-your-sweets-this-valentine-day-you-should-know-more-about-chocolate-before-you-buy/6385768/#:~:text=And%20get%20this%3A%20According%20to,36%20million%20heart%2Dshaped%20boxes.
[5] Time.com, “Here’s Why We Give Roses on Valentine’s Day—And What the Flower Really Means”, published 2/11/2020, accessed 2/11/2022, https://time.com/5519476/roses-symbol-love-valentines-day/