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Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It is widely recognised as a day for love, devotion, and romance. Although the exact origin of the holiday is not widely agreed upon, it is believed to be linked to a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine. Despite this, the Catholic Church does not officially recognise Valentine's Day as a holiday. In this paragraph, we will explore the reasons behind this and discuss the history and traditions associated with Saint Valentine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 February |
| Origin | A Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine |
| History | In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius marked 14 February as a celebration in honour of St. Valentine's martyrdom |
| St. Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith | |
| St. Valentine secretly wed couples so that husbands wouldn't have to go to war | |
| St. Valentine refused to sacrifice to pagan gods and was imprisoned | |
| St. Valentine was later arrested for continuing to convert people to Christianity and sent to Rome under Emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) | |
| In the 1800s, a woman named Esther Howland made Valentine's Day cards popular in the US | |
| In 1969, the feast day of St. Valentine was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or national) calendars | |
| St. Valentine remains in the Roman Catholic Church's official list of saints (the Roman Martyrology) | |
| St. Valentine's relics can be found all over the world | |
| St. Valentine is widely celebrated in France, a traditionally Catholic country, and is known as "Saint Valentin" |
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What You'll Learn
St Valentine's Day is not on the Catholic Church's calendar
St Valentine's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It is widely recognised as a day for love, devotion, and romance. The day is named after a Christian martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts of the world.
Saint Valentine is a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith. There are several legends surrounding him, including one that claims he secretly wedded couples to spare husbands from having to go to war. Initially, the Roman Catholic Church had no issue with celebrating Saint Valentine on February 14, and his feast day was observed on that date until 1969.
However, following the Second Vatican Council, it was suggested that the liturgical year should be revised, and certain saints removed from the General Roman Calendar. As a result, Saint Valentine's commemoration was removed from the universal Catholic Church calendar in 1969 due to the scarcity of information about him. While his existence is confirmed by archaeological evidence, not much is known about his life, except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14.
Today, Saint Valentine remains in the Roman Catholic Church's official list of saints (the Roman Martyrology). However, his feast day is no longer universally celebrated by the Catholic Church. It is now left to particular (local or national) calendars and is not included in the Church's universal calendar. The general calendar states that February 14 is the memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Nevertheless, Saint Valentine's Day continues to be celebrated by Traditionalist Catholics who follow older calendars, such as in Balzan, Malta, where some of his relics are claimed to be found.
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St Valentine is a recognised Catholic saint
The Valentine most associated with the holiday is St Valentine of Rome, a 3rd-century Roman priest and saint. He is widely celebrated on 14 February, which is commonly associated with 'courtly love'. However, there is little reliable information about his life.
According to one legend, St Valentine was imprisoned for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire. While in prison, he restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. Before his execution, he left her a note signed, 'Your Valentine'. Another variation of the legend says that St Valentine was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods.
St Valentine's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, originated as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine. It is said that St Valentine was martyred for his Christian faith. Through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts of the world.
In the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, St Valentine's Day was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 and relegated to particular local or national calendars. However, St Valentine remains in the Roman Martyrology, and his feast day is still celebrated in certain places, such as Balzan in Malta, and by Traditionalist Catholics who follow older calendars.
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St Valentine's Day is celebrated in Catholic countries
St Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on the 14th of February. It is a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts of the world. The day is named after Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith.
Saint Valentine remains in the Roman Catholic Church's official list of saints, but his commemoration was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. The reason for this removal was the scarcity of information about him. However, Saint Valentine is still celebrated in local calendars in places such as Balzan in Malta, where his relics are said to be found.
In traditionally Catholic countries, such as France, Valentine's Day is celebrated in a similar way to other Western countries. In France, it is known as "Saint Valentin", and the village of Roquemaure in the south of the country holds a celebration every two years on the Sunday closest to the 14th of February. The village dresses up in 19th-century costume and puts on a programme with over 800 people.
In addition to France and Malta, other Catholic countries such as Italy and Ireland also have sites that are important to the celebration of Saint Valentine. The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome, and other relics can be found at the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin.
The celebration of Saint Valentine's Day has evolved over the centuries, with the romantic nature of the day possibly deriving from the belief that birds paired couples in mid-February. The day is also associated with 'courtly love', and it is believed that Saint Valentine secretly married couples so that husbands wouldn't have to go to war.
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St Valentine's Day has ancient origins
The earliest origins of Valentine's Day may be traced back to the pagan holiday of Lupercalia, which was celebrated in the middle of February for centuries. This holiday honoured the pagan gods of love, marriage and fertility, Pan and Juno. During Lupercalia, men would strip naked, sacrifice a goat and a dog, and then whip women with the hides of the animals they had just slain. The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of the modern day of love, with the word Galatin meaning "lover of women", likely confused with St Valentine's Day at some point due to their similar sounds.
Following the Christianisation of the Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I combined St Valentine's Day with Lupercalia to expel the pagan rituals, creating a theatrical interpretation of the former festival. While the Christians put clothes back on, the feast remained a day of fertility and love. The earliest connection of Valentine's Day with romance and love can be found in Chaucer's poetry about "Valentine's Day" in the 14th century.
The legends surrounding St Valentine also contributed to the romantic associations of the day. According to one legend, St Valentine cut hearts from parchment to remind persecuted Christians of their vows and God's love, possibly explaining the widespread use of hearts on St Valentine's Day. Another legend states that St Valentine wore a purple amethyst ring with an image of Cupid engraved on it, a symbol associated with love that was recognised by Roman soldiers who would ask him to perform marriages for them.
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St Valentine's Day is a commercial celebration of love
St Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on the 14th of February. It is widely recognised as a day for love, devotion, and romance. The day is named after Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who was martyred for his Christian faith. While the exact origin of the holiday is not widely agreed upon, it has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of love and romance in many parts of the world.
Saint Valentine remains in the Roman Catholic Church's official list of saints, but the commemoration of his feast day on February 14 was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. This was due to the scarcity of information about him, as well as the desire to prevent saints' feast days from overshadowing feasts that commemorate the mysteries of salvation. However, Saint Valentine's Day continues to be celebrated by Traditionalist Catholics who follow older calendars, and it is included in local calendars in places such as Balzan in Malta.
The commercial celebration of St Valentine's Day has become a significant aspect of the holiday. People around the world exchange cards, candy, flowers, and gifts with their loved ones. The day is also associated with romantic gestures and expressions of love, such as sharing sweet notes and spending time together. The popularity of Valentine's Day cards, popularised by Esther Howland in the 1800s in the United States, has contributed to the commercialisation of the holiday.
The commercialisation of St Valentine's Day has led to mixed reactions. While many people embrace the opportunity to express their love and appreciation for their loved ones, others view the holiday as overly commercialised and choose not to participate. Additionally, some cultures have their own unique traditions and expressions of love that incorporate the theme of Valentine's Day, such as the use of poetry in Afghan culture.
In conclusion, St Valentine's Day has evolved into a commercial celebration of love, with people exchanging gifts and expressions of affection. While it is not universally recognised as a Catholic holiday, it holds significance for those who observe it, either as a religious commemoration of Saint Valentine or as a secular celebration of love and romance.
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Frequently asked questions
No, St Valentine's Day is not a Catholic holiday. However, it is widely celebrated by that name, referring to the Catholic saint, Valentine.
St Valentine's Day was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to the scarcity of information about St Valentine.
Yes, St Valentine is a recognised Catholic saint. He is a third-century Roman saint widely celebrated on February 14 and commonly associated with 'courtly love'.
St Valentine's Day is a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
St Valentine's Day is believed to have originated as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine. It is also believed to have originated as an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia.
