By Ivan Munoz
Valentine's Day is a holiday that is dedicated to showing affection to loved ones such as family, friends, and significant others and is celebrated in many countries around the world. However, not many people know the history behind it. Some speculate that it is a fake holiday created by corporations in order to gain profit from consumers who are purchasing roses, chocolates, stuffed animals, cards, and more for their sweethearts. Is Valentine’s Day really just a holiday made for showing appreciation to those close to us, or is it just a money-grabbing ploy created by greedy companies that want to appeal to our human emotions in order to increase their bank accounts? Let’s take a look at the real origins of Valentine’s Day.
Origin
According to History.com, Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. During that time, Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage for young men because he said that single men made better soldiers compared to those who were either married or had children. Since Valentine did not believe in Claudius’ ways, he would still marry people in secret but once his actions were discovered, Claudius demanded for Valentine to be killed. Others suggest the actual Saint Valentine was a bishop. However, he was also put to death by Claudius. There are also many stories where the real Valentine was killed because he assisted in helping tortured Christians escape from Roman prisons. There is a story that says when Valentine was in prison, he fell in love with the warden’s daughter and would write her letters whenever she visited him. He would sign the letters, “From Your Valentine,” which is still used to modern Valentine’s Day cards. Although Valentine’s origin is unclear, he was known to be a consistently noble and romantic person.
Who is Cupid?
Cupid is often depicted as a cute little cherub with rosy cheeks and wings, armed with a bow and arrow to strike unsuspecting couples to fall in love with one another. According to Greek mythology, he was originally called Eros, the God of Love. He was known to be handsome and to toy with the emotions of humans and immortals alike. He also used arrows, similar to Cupid’s, to cause others to be infatuated. Later on in modern age is when Cupid would become the poster image of Valentine’s Day.
Modern Age Valentines Day
Valentine’s Day in today's day and age is still something romantic despite what critics make of it. Valentine's Day is not only about love, but it is a day to celebrate friendships, as the term in Spanish suggests “El Dia de Amor y Amistad” (the day of love and friendship).
There is a tradition in elementary school where each student brings a candy and Valentine's Day cards for each of their classmates and it is something I used to do when I was a kid as well. Not only did it make me feel great at the time, but it was nice that so many children also felt happy.
Valentine's Day is also a great thing for families, it's a day of love so it is common for families to remind each other how much they appreciate one another. Even if you give someone a box of chocolates, roses, or simply a Valentine’s Day card, it can make that special someone's day.
Whether people decide to spend money or not, Valentine’s Day will always be known as a day for love worldwide.
Photo Credits/Sources: Pinterest, Helpguide
Comments