What nation established Valentine's Day, and why is it observed?

There are many myths and traditions that purport to explain the origins of Valentine's Day, therefore its history is not entirely certain. The most popular one is that Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived in the third century in Rome, is the inspiration for the name of Valentine's Day. This tale claims that Saint Valentine was a priest who secretly conducted marriages for young soldiers in defiance of the emperor's prohibition on such unions. After being detained and imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind jailer's daughter. Before his execution, he is said to have given her her sight back and written her a goodbye note, writing it "from your Valentine". This myth, however, is unsupported by historical data, and on February 14th, other martyrs with the name Valentine perished in various locations and at various times.

Valentine's Day may have originated from the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia, which fell on February 15 of that year. This festival honored the fertility deity and included lottery-based matchmaking, animal sacrifices, and purifying rituals. According to some historians, Saint Valentine's Day took the role of Lupercalia in the fifth century when Pope Gelasius I tried to Christianize the pagan festival. Lupercalia and Saint Valentine, however, have no direct relationship, and February 14 was formerly connected to a number of other martyrs prior to Gelasius.

The poet Geoffrey Chaucer composed a poem for King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia's engagement in the 14th century, which is when Valentine's Day was initially linked to romantic love. He said in his poetry that Saint Valentine's Day is when birds chose their partners. Later, other authors and poets like Shakespeare, Donne, and Spenser promoted this concept by using Valentine's Day as a metaphor for courting and love in their writings.

Valentine's Day evolved into an annual feast day in France and England by the fifteenth century, when people would exchange flowers, cards, and presents as tokens of their passion. In 1415, while imprisoned in the Tower of London, Charles, Duke of Orleans, composed a love sonnet for his spouse, which is the earliest surviving Valentine's Day card. Over the next years, the custom of exchanging Valentine's Day cards expanded across Europe and America, particularly with the advancement of printing and postal systems. With millions of cards being sent on Valentine's Day each year worldwide, Valentine's Day has become one of the most commercially successful holidays.

In addition to cards, Valentine's Day is associated with hearts, flowers, chocolates, cupid, and lace. Although the meanings and origins of these symbols vary, they all express love and affection. Cupid is the god of love who fires arrows to make people fall in love; roses are the blossoms of beauty and love; chocolates are delicious sweets that increase pleasure; and the term "lace" derives from the verb "laece," which means to trap or capture someone. Hearts are the symbol of the seat of emotions and affection.

Around the globe, Valentine's Day is observed differently based on the traditions and cultures of the various nations. Valentine's Day is often observed by going on dates, hosting romantic dinners, exchanging presents or flowers, watching romantic films, or penning love letters. Some nations have their own special Valentine's Day customs. For example, in Brazil, people celebrate "Lover's Day" on June 12; in Finland, they celebrate "Friend's Day" rather than romantic love; and in Japan, women give sweets to men.

Valentine's Day is a celebration of love—romantic, platonic, family, and self-love—in all its manifestations. It's a day to tell your loved ones how much you care and to convey your sentiments to them. It's also a day to honor the variety of cultures represented on this occasion and to recall the myths and history that surround it. Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate and spread love to others, regardless of whether you are single or in a relationship.