Romance is in the Air:

The Customs of Valentine’s Day, 14 February

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D. , the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine”. Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

The earliest records of Valentine’s Day in English tell that birds chose their mates on that day. People used a different calendar before 1582, and February 14 came on what is now February 24. Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet of the 1300’s, wrote in The Parliament of Fowls, “For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.” Shakespeare also mentioned this belief in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A character in the play discovers two lovers in the woods and asks, “St. Valentine is past; Begin these woodbirds but to couple now?”

Early Valentine Customs People in England probably celebrated Valentine’s Day as early as the 1400’s. Some historians trace the custom of sending verses on Valentine’s Day to a Frenchman named Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles was captured by the English during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was taken to England and put in prison. On Valentine’s Day, he sent his wife a rhymed love letter from his cell in the Tower of London.

Many Valentine’s Day customs involved ways that single women could learn who their future husbands would be. Englishwomen of the 1700’s wrote men’s names on scraps of paper, rolled each in a little piece of clay, and dropped them all into water. The first paper that rose to the surface supposedly had the name of a woman’s true love. One description of Valentine’s Day during the 1700’s tells how groups of friends met to draw names. For several days, each man wore his valentine’s name on his sleeve. The saying wearing his heart on his sleeve probably came from this practice.

Many men gave gifts to their valentines. In some areas, a young man gave his valentine a pair of gloves. Wealthy men gave fancy balls to honor their valentines.

Valentine’s Day Cards

The custom of sending romantic messages gradually replaced that of giving gifts. In the 1700’s and 1800’s, many stores sold handbooks called valentine writers. These books included verses to copy and various suggestions about writing valentines. Commercial valentines were first made in the early 1800’s. Many of them were blank inside, with space for the sender to write a message.

Many valentines of the 1800’s were hand painted. Some featured a fat cupid or showed arrows piercing a heart. Many cards had satin, ribbon, or lace trim. Others were decorated with dried flowers, feathers, imitation jewels, mother-of-pearl, sea shells, or tassels. Some cards cost as much as $10. Many old valentines have become collectors’ items.

And today – Chocolates, Dinner and Romance

In a number of Western countries, Valentine’s Day continues to be a special day for lovers and friends, and highlights the idea of romance. In Canada, the USA and the UK, children exchange Valentine’s Day cards with their friends. Women expect a bit of romance from their boyfriend or husband on this day, and will be unforgiving to the husband who forgets to give a card, chocolates and offer a nice evening out!

In the wider world too, the idea of Valentine’s Day is spreading. In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day cards and chocolates are given to boyfriends, girlfriends or spouses. And a romantic dinner is also a must – this is one of the most busy evenings for restaurants in the Philippines!

Valentine’s Day has an interesting twist in Japan, with women expected to offer chocolates to men – the opposite of the Western World’s view of Valentine’s Day!