Where Did Valentine’s Day Come from?

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I didn’t know the origins of St. Valentine’s Day,
Did you?

Here are a few fun facts about St. Valentine, after whom the holiday is named:

There are a couple of historical candidates who may have earned the name St. Valentine, but we’re not certain. One of them was a martyr.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day as a day for couples started in the 14th Century.
In the Catholic church, St. Valentine was the saint of marriage, beekeepers, and epilepsy.
Chaucer may have been to blame for the start of this holiday, as it first appeared in “Parliament of Foules,” which I will share an excerpt from:

For this was on Seynt Valentynes day,
Whan every foul cometh ther to chese his make,
Of every kinde, that men thynke may;
And that so huge a noyse gan they make,
That erthe and see, and tree, and every lake
So ful was, that unnethe was ther space
For me to stonde, so ful was al the place.

Line 309-325 from http://www.librarius.com/parliamentfs.htm

This is apparently the first reference to a “Saint Valentine’s Day,” which Chaucer portrays as a day every kind of creature comes to find its mate.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Valentine

https://www.history.com/news/6-surprising-facts-about-st-valentine

http://www.librarius.com/parliamentfs.htm

Published by melissamyounger

I always dreamed of being a writer, but never thought I could make money doing it. So, after earning a BA in English and honing my reading, analytical, and writing skills, I settled for a more "stable" career in ministry (joking, of course!), bringing my love for the written word to my Biblical studies as I learned Greek and Hebrew, Exegesis and Theology while getting an MA in Theological Studies. I've worked in various ministry capacities in the church: children's minister, ministry staff (aka, "whatever needs doing"), ESL teacher, youth intern, and others. Though this blog is mostly about classic literature, I will probably throw in some thoughts on writing, occasional theological musings, or my reflections on emotional health, psychology, philosophy, or cultural topics. I am a thinker and a lover of many things! I am currently pursuing publishing my first children's novel while doing freelance writing (my profile here: https://www.upwork.com/o/profiles/users/~0104b8a9e8c1253315/). I like to paint (and may share some of them here someday!), enjoy the outdoors, learning, reading, and growing. I also love learning about other people and helping them to realize their gifts and potential. View more posts

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