The Dark Origins of Valentine's Day; From Ancient Rituals to Modern Romance
Valentine’s Day, often associated with love and romance, has a surprisingly dark and brutal origin rooted in ancient Roman traditions. The holiday traces its roots back to the festival of Lupercalia, celebrated from February 13 to 15. This pagan festival honoured Lupa, the she-wolf who nurtured Romulus and Remus, and Lupercus, the Roman fertility god. The rituals involved men sacrificing a goat and a dog, then running through the streets—often naked—striking women with the hides of the freshly killed animals. Women willingly participated, believing it would increase their fertility. The festival also included a matchmaking lottery, where men drew women’s names from a jar to pair up for the duration of the event.
The transformation of Lupercalia into Valentine’s Day began in the fifth century when Pope Gelasius sought to Christianise the pagan festival by combining it with St. Valentine’s Day. However, the romantic connotations of the holiday didn’t emerge until the 14th and 15th centuries, influenced by medieval poets like Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare, who linked the day to courtly love. By the 18th century, exchanging handwritten Valentine’s cards became a popular tradition. The holiday’s commercialisation began in 1913 when Hallmark started mass-producing Valentine’s cards, cementing its association with romantic love and consumerism.
The name “Valentine’s Day” is derived from Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr. There are multiple legends about Saint Valentine, including one where he secretly performed weddings for young soldiers, defying Emperor Claudius II’s ban. Another tale recounts how he sent a letter to a young girl signed “From your Valentine,” a phrase that endures in modern Valentine’s Day greetings. Despite its romantic modern-day image, the holiday’s origins are a stark reminder of its violent and ritualistic past.
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