The History of Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day originally honored Saint Valentine, but who is this saint? Historically, three or more men named Valentine were martyred for their Christian beliefs and later named saints by the Catholic Church.

One of the most popular St. Valentine stories tells of a Roman priest in the early days of Christianity. Valentine served under Emperor Claudius, who believed that single men made better soldiers than married soldiers with families. Therefore, Claudius passed a law banning soldiers from marrying.

Appalled at the law, Valentine secretly continued to wed young couples. He was imprisoned for his lawlessness and eventually beheaded. 

Valentines Day is one of several Christian holidays timed near pagan celebrations. As the church grew across Europe, older customs often were absorbed and the holidays were replaced with Christian feast days.

Ancient mid-winter holidays include Imbolc, a Celtic holiday celebrating fertility and rebirth. In addition, Medieval folklore claimed that birds chose their mates in February. Thus, the month became associated with love, mating and the approach of spring.

Another St. Valentine story explains the origin of the valentine card. It’s said that while Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love - possibly with the jailer’s daughter. To communicate with her, he pricked messages into heart-shaped leaves plucked from a plant outside the window of his cell. Signed “from your Valentine,” these messages form the basis of the Valentine’s Day cards we exchange today.

Medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer is believed to be one of the first to connect St. Valentine with romantic love, essentially inventing Valentine’s Day. In the late 1300s, Chaucer wrote “The Parliament of Fowls” for his wife. Despite the unromantic title, the poem suggested Valentine’s Day was the day birds chose their mates, inducing other writers to link the saint day with notions of romance.

By the 18th century, lovers commonly embellished their valentines with pictures of hearts, birds, flowers and leaves. Over time, valentines became even more elaborate, featuring layers of paper, lace, cutwork and other trimmings. Publishers even printed guides like The Lady’s Own Valentine Writer to supply verses.

While handmade love letters have always been prized, 19th-century entrepreneurs capitalized on the notion of pre-made cards marketed toward less artistic individuals.

One of the earliest American valentine card producers was Esther Howland, a 20-year-old from Worcester, Massachusetts, whose father owned a large stationery company. She convinced him to let her create valentine cards modeled on fancy cards typically imported from Britain. Her lacy and sentimental creations were a huge hit.

Valentine decorations depicting chubby cherubs carrying bows and arrows are common around Valentine’s Day. But why?

The legend of Cupid originates in Greek mythology. The god Eros (the Greek word for ‘desire,’) was the son of Aphrodite, goddess of love. In the beginning, he was depicted as a handsome youth who could make people fall in love, a power he often misused to create trouble for humans.

As stories developed demonstrating Aphrodite’s control over her son, his image grew younger and younger. By the time the Romans appropriated the Greek myths, Aphrodite’s son was envisioned as an infant. Romans named him after their word for desire, Cupid.

These days, Cupid is depicted as an angel who aims his arrows to further the course of romantic love.

Traditional Valentine’s Day images include hearts, cupids and roses. Red and pink, the most popular colors associated with Valentine’s Day, are incorporated into many cards and decorations. 

The National Retail Foundation expects spending on Valentine’s Day gifts to reach a record $27.5 billion in 2025, up more than $1.5 billion from the previous year. At least part of this boost comes from people who buy valentine presents for their pets.

Although jewelers might have you believe differently, diamonds are not the gift given most often on Valentine’s Day. In fact, jewelry is favored by just 10 percent of Valentine’s Day gift-givers.

According to Statista, candy is the most popular Valentine’s Day gift, followed by greeting cards (valentines), flowers, romantic dinners and wine. And if your valentine chocolates come in a fancy box, you can thank Richard Cadbury, who created the first heart-shaped candy box in 1868.

Unlike Christmas, when elaborate or expensive gifts are common, there is often less pressure to “go big” on Valentine’s Day. A simple card and box of candy, dinner out, or a loving gesture, are enough to mark the holiday.

Many people enjoy putting up valentine decorations like window silhouettes, house flags and Valentines Day decor.

So go ahead - hang some pink lights and paper cut-outs, give your favorite person a kiss and a card and wish them a Happy Valentine’s Day!