Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is also known as Saint Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Feast.¹⁾

It is a secular and religious festival observed on February 14 each year.²⁾

It began as a Western Christian feast day dedicated to one or two early saints called Valentinus.³⁾

In many parts of the world, Valentine's Day is considered as an important cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love.⁴⁾

Numerous martyrdom stories are related with several Valentines associated with February 14, including a documented narrative of Saint Valentine. He was imprisoned for performing marriages for soldiers who were prohibited to marry and ministering to persecuted Christians under the Roman Empire.⁵⁾

Saint Valentine, tradition has it, restored sight to the blind daughter of his judge. As a goodbye, he wrote her a note addressed to “Your Valentine”.⁶⁾

The 14th century Geoffrey Chaucer's group was the first to identify the day with romantic love.⁷⁾

It evolved into an event in 18th-century England where lovers demonstrated their love for one another by offering flowers.⁸⁾

These flowers were also selling candy and delivering greeting cards. They were referred to as “valentines”.⁹⁾

Today's Valentine's Day symbolism include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the image of the winged Cupid.¹⁰⁾

Handwritten valentines have given place to mass-produced greeting cards since the nineteenth century.¹¹⁾

Saint Valentine's Keys are presented to couples in Europe “as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver's heart”, as well as to children to protect them from epilepsy.¹²⁾

On July 6 and July 30, several portions of the Eastern Orthodox Church also observe Saint Valentine's Day.¹³⁾

The former commemorates Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, while the latter commemorates Hieromartyr Valentine. He served as the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).¹⁴⁾

Due to religious customs, it is prohibited in many Eastern nations.¹⁵⁾

Every year, around 200 million roses are sold. It is one of the most commercially significant holidays.¹⁶⁾