Happy Valentine’s Day?
Each year on February 14th we are reminded of those we love, in all forms. Whether this is celebrating with friends, loved ones or even just cuddling up with the dog. When you think of Valentine’s Day you might think of chocolates, flowers or even proposals …but do you ever think about why we celebrate this and where did it all even start?
Perhaps you’re aware of its roots in Christian and Roman/Pagan traditions, but did you know how Saint Valentine become the ‘Patron Saint of Love’? After doing a little digging, this is what I discovered…
Some Christian legends state that Saint Valentine was a priest who helped single soldiers to marry their sweethearts; while others believe that he wasn’t a priest at all, but actually helped people to escape Roman prisons and married the daughter of the jailer. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is unknown, the stories all emphasise his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure.
Now comes the link to the Romans… Though some believe that we celebrate on 14th February because it is the anniversary of the death/canonisation (the process of making someone a Saint) of Saint Valentine, it may be that it was a way of ‘Christianising’ the Pagan festival of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was traditionally celebrated on 15th February, and was a fertility festival that was dedicated to Faunus (the Roman God of agriculture). The ceremonies of this festival would bless the fertility of the land and people, which would make it easier to link it to a Patron Saint of Love; especially since the local, eligible women would place their names into a large urn for the men to draw them out at random. The couple would stay together for a year, and quite often made it official after this, by marrying their ‘chosen’ partner.
The final link between February and love is that, in the Middle Ages, it was believed that February was the mating season for birds. The medieval French birdwatchers noticed a pattern in when birds chose their partners. This could explain the link between lovebirds and ‘lovebirds’!
However Valentine’s day really came to be, it has turned into a day of love and positivity; adapted all over the world to show people how much you care! Whether you celebrate with your partner or want to show celebrate your friendship, we, at Bolton Tuition Centre, wish you and your loves ones all the love on this lovely day.
