Why do some countries celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14?

Being especially celebrated in countries like the United States, Australia and Canada, the date that celebrates love has become known worldwide by its English name: Valentine's Day. This means that every February 14, people scattered in different parts. from the world exchange candy, flowers and gifts with those they love - all in the name of St. Valentine. But do you know who this saint is or wonder where this tradition comes from?

The legend of St. Valentine

As with many other cultural aspects, it is not always possible to retrieve the records that prove the origin of a tradition. In this way, different stories always come and go, and the true origin of the celebration remains a mystery. And with Valentine's Day it was no different!

February is known to be the month of love for a long time and Valentine's Day (as we know it today) contains traces of both Christianity and pagan Roman festivities. But the question is, who was St. Valentine and why was his name associated with that date?

To begin to understand the story, it is important to know that the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentinus or Valentinus, all of whom have been martyred. One of the legends tells that Valentine was a priest who lived during the 3rd century in Rome. At the same time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers when they had no wife and children, and for that reason forbade marriage for the young. Thinking this was an injustice, Father Valentine continued to celebrate the wedding of the young lovebirds in secret. When he was discovered, the emperor ordered his death.

Yet another story suggests that Valentine was killed for trying to help some Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often punished and tortured. And the third known legend says that Valentine was arrested when he fell in love with a young girl - who was possibly the jailer's daughter - who visited him during the confinement. He himself would have been the first to send a love letter using the expression “from your Valentine, ” which is used to this day in letters and cards that are traditionally sent on that date.

Regardless of which Valentin originated the celebration, the three stories show us a sympathetic, romantic and, in a sense, heroic figure. In the Middle Ages, this good reputation made St. Valentine one of the most popular saints in England and France.

The pagan origin

While some believe Valentine's Day is celebrated in mid-February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death - which is estimated to have taken place around the year 270 - others argue that the Catholic Church has decided to set the date in the middle. February in an attempt to Christianize a traditional pagan celebration known as Lupercalia.

Celebrated around February 15, Lupercalia was the fertility festival dedicated to Faun, the Roman god of agriculture, and the founders of Rome. The celebration consisted of the gathering of the lupercos - order of Roman priests - who made sacrifices to ward off evil spirits and promote the fertility of the people. Legend has it that all the girls in the city put their names in a big ballot box. There the singles chose a name so that the girl would be his mate for a year. It was common for relationships that began at the festival to end in marriage.

Lupercalia survived until the 5th century, which was when, with the growth of Christianity, the festival was banned for being considered pagan. It was then that Pope Gelasius I declared that February 14 would be Valentine's Day as a kind of homage. At that time, the date still had no connection with love.

During the Middle Ages, it was believed in England and France that February 14 marked the beginning of the bird's mating season. It was the popularity of this idea that gave rise to the most romantic side of the date.

Love around the world

In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Australia. In the United Kingdom, the date began to gain popularity around the 17th century. In the mid-18th century, it was common for friends and lovers of all walks of life to exchange small gifts or handwritten cards. With the arrival of the twentieth century and the evolution of printing techniques, printed cards gained space. Low postage costs have also contributed to the popularity of card sending.

Americans are believed to have begun exchanging the first handwritten messages in the early 1700s. As early as the mid-1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced cards in America. Her creations were elaborate and had lace, bows and colorful images, which eventually earned her the title of "mother of St. Valentine's cards".

Valentine's Day in numbers

Check out more interesting facts and figures about Valentine's Day:

• Men usually spend twice the amount women disburse on that date. On average, a man spends $ 150 (362 reais), while a woman spends $ 74 (178 reais);
• About 8 billion heart candies - one of the most traditional candies of the time - are produced each year. This amount is enough to call Rome (Italy) to Valentine (Arizona, United States) 20 times.
• This is the 4th season when they are consumed most sparkling, just behind the New Year, Christmas and Thanksgiving. Americans spend $ 8.6 million ($ 20.7 million) and consume about 640, 000 liters of the drink during Valentine's Day week;
• 61% of men buy flowers, with mixed flower bouquets being the best sellers. Second are the red roses and third are the colored roses;
• $ 448 million (more than $ 1 billion) is spent on candy in the week of February 14. At the same time, 26 million pounds of chocolate and 36 million heart-shaped boxes are sold;
• Women buy about 85% of all St. Valentine's cards;
• In the United States alone, in recent years the date has moved about $ 15 billion ($ 36 billion) annually. This puts Valentine's Day second only to Christmas on the list of the dates consumers spend the most.

Posted on 14/02/2014