Fun Facts

Valentines’ Dark Side  

Valentines Day’s ancient origin is by the Romans when they celebrated the feast of Lupercalia in honor of the wolf Lupa who suckled Romulus and Remus, as well as Faunus the God of Agriculture and the season to start sowing seeds and hoping for a fertile year. The expression “being hit on” came from this festival when drunk naked young men ran through the streets whipping blood smeared women with hides of animals they had just sacrificed. The women were willing participants believing it would make them fertile.

The unreliable story is that Emperor Claudius II executed two priests both named Valentine, one for marrying couples to spare the man from having to go to war. St. Valentines Day was born in 496 AD when Pope Gelasius marked the day to honor the martyrdom of the two priests. The Roman Catholic Church still recognizes Saint Valentine even though in 1969 Valentine was removed from the General Roman calendar for lack of information about him. The church considers Valentine to be the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, happy marriages, love, lovers, and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses on his celebrated day (Boeckmann).

Valentine cards started in 1600, with the first commercial card in the 1800s, and Hallmark Cards mass producing in 1913. Valentine cards have been one of their most popular (chocolate indulging) card ever since. Here are a few of their good quotes: “True love begins when nothing is looked for in return.” “Where there is love, there is no darkness.” “True love never grows old.”