Why is Valentine’s Day Celebrated? Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated by lovers and those in love. It is celebrated February 14th.
There are a couple of popular theories for how Valentine’s Day came about. One theory is that it is derived from the ancient Roman feast or Lupercalia. Lupercalia was an annual rite of fertility where eligible young men and women were coupled through a lottery in the town. As Christianity took over holidays were renamed for Christian martyrs and two from the 3rd century both named Valentine were used to rename Lupercalia. The idea of Valentine’s Day being a day of love and courtship prevailed however. It was common for lovers to exchange handwritten notes by the 18th century and by 1840 the first mass-produced Valentines were created in Massachusetts by Ester Howland. Valentine’s Day is the second most popular holiday to send cards on, behind only Christmas. Approximately one billion Valentines are sent worldwide. What People Do and How Valentine’s Day is Celebrated Valentine’s Day is celebrated by the exchanging of cards and gifts between friends and lovers. Cards are often covered in hearts and done in shades of red, pink, and white. Birds are often used as well dating back to medieval France and England where it was thought birds mated on the 14th and thus became the symbol for lovers. Chocolates and roses are also popular, the former in heart shaped boxes the latter in various shades but most often in red long-stemmed. Other heart shaped candy is also eaten and shared including cinnamon hearts, lollipops, and holiday printed snack sized candy bars. Cookies with red sprinkles are also popular as treats on Valentine’s Day. More recently the jewelry industry has capitalized on the holiday to encourage the giving of jewelry, most notably diamonds. Places to be/see for Valentine’s Day Wherever the popular restaurant with small tables, candlelight, and wine is served is the most desirable location. Somewhere without children that are cozy is the most popular place to go. Valentine’s Day isn’t the type of holiday that has parades, although exchanging Valentines is pretty popular for school children. Valentine’s Day Activities A quiet dinner by candlelight is often a popular choice between couples. Younger folks might go to see a romantic movie. Single people often go out together and have a singles dinner or movie night to celebrate their being single instead of moping about not having a sweetheart. School children often make “mailboxes” for their Valentines and pass them out to each other. Often part of the week before is spent making Valentines to pass out and a “party” may take up part of the day complete with snacks and games. Valentine’s Day is also a very popular time to make your affections known by giving someone a special gift or card. It is also a popular day to get engaged or married in many places, as nothing is more special (or easy to remember) than an anniversary on Valentine’s Day. Click to play the Valentine Games |
