Valentine’s Day is known as the holiday of love. It is punctuated by flowers, chocolates, poetic greeting cards and paper hearts. About 150 million cards are exchanged for Valentine’s Day each year, making it the second most popular card-sending holiday next to Christmas. But do you know the history behind why we celebrate February 14th and how it came to be the holiday it is today? Read on to find out!
The history of Valentine’s Day and the holiday’s namesake, Saint Valentine, is not entirely known. The holiday is thought to have began as a Christian celebration of the martyr Saint Valentine of Rome. It is believed that Valentine’s Day was created many centuries ago to be celebrated at the same time the three-day Roman pagan fertility festival, Lupercalia, was observed. Thus, Valentine’s Day fell on February 14th, right smack in the middle of Lupercalia.
According to history.com, the legend of Saint Valentine contends that he was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Legend claims an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is said that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a heroic and romantic figure.
Today, Valentine’s Day is still a holiday of romance, albeit much more commercialized. A trip to most stores during this time will show you aisles upon aisles of red – roses, heart-shaped things, boxes of chocolates, teddy bears and much more! But what about blue? If you’re looking to get your significant other a unique token of love, consider a gift card to Blue Sky Med Spa! Blue Sky Med Spa offers a variety of spa services like massage, facials, as well as cosmetic and medical treatments. Give your significant other a gift he or she will truly cherish – the gift of good health! Stop by our office to pick up your gift card or visit Blue Sky Med Spa for more information on the services offered.
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
