Valentine’s Day history

Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, call it how you want but the meaning is the same the celebration of love and affection. Many countries celebrate this holiday every year on February 14, although in most countries is a working day. 

The name Valentine is associated with the Christian Saints named Valentinus.  Saint Valentine was a pries near Rome, in the year 270 A.D and he got imprisoned for doing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and also helped Christians to escape the persecution by the Roman Empire.

Before being executed he healed the daughter of his jailer, Julia who was blind. All family members and servants became to believe in Jesus and were baptized.

Before his execution he wrote a letter, the first “valentine card”, for his jailer daughter, Julia signing as Your Valentine. This expression is still used today in greeting cards and dedications. Legends say that Julia planted a blossomed almond tree near to St.Valentine grave. Almond tree is a symbol of this holiday, also with doves, figure of Cupid and heart-shaped outline.

February 14 was the day when Saint Valentine was executed. 

Why Cupid is considered as a symbol of love?

From Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. He shoots people with his magical arrows to fall in love. But Cupid himself fall in love to, but with a mortal maiden, named Psyche. They get married but Venus was jealous of Psyche beauty and forbade Psyche to look at Cupid. She couldn’t resist to the temptation and for that Venus asked a punishment for her, three hard tasks, where Psyche died. 

Cupid brought her back to life and the gods, granted Psyche immortality. Cupid thus represents the heart and Psyche the (struggles of the) human soul.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you <3 <3