A history of Valentine’s Day: Festivals, feast days, flowers and more

History of Valentine's Day

On February 14, kids in classrooms exchange Valentine’s Day candies. Sweethearts celebrate their romance with flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. Friends send cards and confections. There’s a lot to love about a day that’s all about love. And there’s quite the history, too.

From ancient origins to modern celebrations, the history of Valentine’s Day is full of mysterious legends and surprising facts. So, hold onto your red hearts and chocolate truffles, because we’re diving into the history of Valentine’s Day!

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From festival to feast: Valentine’s Day origins  

Before there was Valentine’s Day, there was Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival held each February 13–14. Dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to Rome’s founders Romulus and Remus, Lupercalia celebrated fertility and the coming of spring.

To Christianize the pagan festival in 5 A.D., Pope Gelasius I chose February 14 as the feast day for Saint Valentine, a Christian who was martyred in 3 A.D. Although February 14 commemorated Saint Valentine, its associations with romance didn’t occur until much later.

The mysterious legends of Saint Valentine

Although it is unclear which Saint Valentine the day refers to, there are several fascinating legends around figures named either Valentine or Valentinus who became associated with February 14.

  • In one legend, an imprisoned Valentine once wrote a letter to the jailer’s daughter and signed it “from your Valentine.” His sentence is believed to have been carried out on February 14.
  • Another legend describes Saint Valentine as a priest who performed marriages in secret after the Roman emperor outlawed marriage to prepare young men for war.

 

Valentine’s Day grows in meaning

In France and England during the Middle Ages, February 14 marked the beginning of the mating season for birds. In 1375, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer referred to St. Valentine’s Day as a day for romance in his poem, “Parliament of Foules,” further solidifying its meaning.

As written valentines became popular, commercial printing expanded Valentine’s Day cards throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The introduction of postage and envelopes only increased the tradition of exchanging valentines.

Contrary to popular belief, Hallmark did not invent Valentine’s Day. Initially, Hallmark’s founder, J.C. Hall, began selling Valentine’s Day postcards in 1910. As greeting cards gained popularity, Hallmark began printing its very own greeting cards. By 1916, the very first Hallmark Valentine’s Day cards appeared on store shelves.

  • 1910s
    Valentines pre-date Hallmark and were among the first types of cards the company offered. A fire in 1915 that destroyed the company’s inventory of Valentine postcards led to the purchase of printing equipment so Hall Bros. (which would become Hallmark) could begin creating its own Valentines and other cards.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1910s Pansies Basket
  • 1920s
    The decade may have roared, but the invitation to join this lass on the loveseat was shy and sweetly coy.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1920s Sweet & Shy
  • 1920s
    The color on this and other Hallmark cards through the 1920s and 1930s was applied by hand, until lithography made color printing feasible.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1920s Heart with Hand-applied Color
  • 1930s
    Rub-a-dub-dub, what’s that in the tub? It’s a washboard, common in households before washing machines were widely available.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1930s Bear with Washboard
  • 1930s
    Even with patched pants, love prevailed in this Depression-days Valentine.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1930s Depression-days Valentine
  • 1940s
    “From me, your little sweetie pie, who really, truly loves her guy,” is the message inside this Valentine from a wife to her husband.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1940s Sweetie Pie
  • 1950s
    “Don’t be silly,” reads the rest of this Hallmark card intended for a loved one serving in the Korean war.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1950s Swell Guy in the Service
  • 1950s
    “And ZOWIE, they still do!” reads the message inside of this swell Hallmark Valentine.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1950s Swell Guy I Married
  • 1960s
    Smoking was cool until the Surgeon General’s office issued its warning in the mid-1960s. No cautionary message about hairstyles of the day, however.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1960s Smoking Lady
  • 1970s
    “…is more nice people like you!” reads the inside of this happy hippie Hallmark Valentine card.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1970s Happy Hippie
  • 1970s
    The photo treatment and hairstyles scream 1970s, but the message inside whispers: “With you, I feel beautiful.”
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1970s Photo Treatment
  • 1980s
    Hubby was forthright and appreciative in his Valentine expression; the inside of this card reads: “…and in the hall and in the closet and in the den…”
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1980s Wife in Kitchen
  • 1980s
    Some of the decade’s leading heart-throbs were on the wish list…
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1980s Heart-throbs
  • 1980s
    …but it was the frog who came bearing gifts!
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1980s Frog
  • 1990s
    Inside, this card from Hallmark’s Mahogany line continues: “You move through me like a summer breeze, awakening my senses, stirring my emotions, making me feel alive… Your love is like air, and in you, I breathe.” Steamy!
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1990s Mahogany
  • 1990s
    Whether it was “like” or “love”… a new romance or a long-term relationship, “Look, it’s Cupig!” could work its whimsy on a range of 1990s relationships and situations.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 1990s Cupig
  • 2000s
    It’s a fairy-tale image in this Hallmark card, with words grounded in the reality of new millennium relationships.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 2000s Fairy-tale
  • 2000s
    He… she… a parked car… it’s the 21st century version of an age-old theme, set to a popular country tune courtesy of this Valentine Card With Sound.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 2000s Card With Sound
  • 2000s
    “I’m nuts about you!” reads the inside of this consumer-created Valentine, a finalist in a Hallmark Card Contest, one of many fun options for our greeting card future.
    Valentine's Day cards through the years: 2000s Nuts About You

Popular Valentine’s Day symbols  

In addition to exchanging Valentine’s Day cards, many symbols and traditions have become popular over the years. Here are some of the most common symbols linked to Valentine’s Day:

  • Flowers: Because of their association with beauty and love, red roses are a popular flower on Valentine’s Day. In the 19th century, bouquets were more varied, with flower symbolism speaking to specific meanings. In this way, you could encode an entire message using only a bouquet of flowers.
  • Candy: Chocolate has long been associated with romantic gift-giving, but the first heart-shaped box of chocolates appeared in the 19th century. Conversation hearts (Sweethearts) also appeared in the 19th century with messages like “Be Mine” and “Kiss Me.”
  • Cupid: As the Roman god of love, Cupid shows up all over Valentine’s Day. Often depicted as a winged infant with bows and arrows, getting “struck” by Cupid’s arrow is meant to inspire love and passion.
  • Birds: Because of the association with their mating season, birds have long been a romantic symbol linked to Valentine’s Day. From lovebirds to swans to penguins, birds have come to symbolize love’s enduring bond.

Popular Valentine’s Day traditions in the United States  

As Valentine’s Day festivities gained momentum, several modern-day traditions have also formed to help people celebrate their love.

  • Gift exchanges: In America, cards, chocolate and jewelry are commonly gifted.
  • Date nights: From candlelit dinners to a table for two, a romantic dinner is often on the menu. Paired with a few conversation starters, it’s a date night success story.
  • School celebrations: Since the 1950s, school children have held Valentine’s Day-themed activities and gift exchanges. The beloved tradition has become a much-anticipated holiday in schools.
  • Friends and family: Valentine’s Day celebrations also extend beyond romantic partners with friends and family often sharing their love on February 14. More recent additions include occasions like “Galentine’s” and “Palentines” Day.

Valentine’s Day celebrations around the world  

In today’s world, Valentine’s Day and its variations are celebrated every February 14 across the globe.

  • Japan: Valentine’s Day is celebrated with women giving chocolates to men. “Giri choco” (obligation chocolate) is given to friends while “honmei choco” (true feeling chocolate) is given to romantic partners. A month later, on March 14, men reciprocate the gift.
  • France: In Paris, the “City of Love,” Valentine’s Day traditions include cards, gifts and often, romantic love letters. Thinking of writing your own love letter? We’ve got you.
  • Denmark: People exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops instead of roses. Cards and letters often include humorous poems or rhymes.
  • Philippines: Valentine’s Day culminates in mass wedding ceremonies that are sponsored by the government, making it a significant day for many.
  • Finland and Estonia: February 14 in these countries is known as Friend’s Day and celebrations include sharing affection and appreciation with friends and loved ones.
  • Germany: Ginger cookies are a popular treat to celebrate Valentine’s Day, as well as pig-themed gifts, which are a symbol of luck.
  • Mexico: As El Día de Amor y Amistad (The Day of Love and Friendship), Mexico celebrates both romantic relationships and friendships.

From cupid’s arrow to kissy face emojis 😘, our expressions of love have changed quite a bit over the centuries and so has Valentine’s Day. Yet, across the world, the meaning behind the holiday remains as strong as ever. Valentine’s Day is a story of human connection, and the long history of Valentine’s Day shows us that love really does make the world go round.

 

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