Valentine's history

 

Who always has a date on Valentine's day? -A calendar!

February is a month of love, couples and cupids. As valentines day approaches, film halls, gift shops, chocolate shops, jewellery shops and malls start getting overpopulated. Westernization and modernization have been successful to sweep this festival to Nepal. The younger generation celebrates this festival of love with great excitement. But most of them are not aware of the mysterious bloody history of this festival.

The exact origin of this festival is not pinpointed yet but it is believed to be originated from ancient Rome. Back in 269 A.D., Emperor Claudius II executed Saint Valentine on Feb 14. It is believed that he refused to give up Christianity and stuck to his faith but lost his head. He was a priest in a church. It is rumoured that he had left a note to the jailer’s daughter who had become his friend, and signed it “From your Valentine”. 

In ancient Rome, the Feast of Lupercalia was celebrated from Feb 13-15. Ancient Roman men hit women by actually hitting them. Men sacrificed a goat and a dog and then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain.  Noel Lenski, a historian said that ‘ ancient roman romantics were drunk and naked and young women would line up for men to hit them’. It was believed that it would make them fertile. 

During the festival, a matchmaking lottery is played where young men drew women's names from a jar. The couple is then coupled for the period of the festival. If the match was right, then they would be coupled for life. 

Emperor Claudius II executed two men named Valentine on Feb 14 of different years in the 3rd century. The martyrdom was honoured by the catholic church and st valentines day was born.

Later Pope Gelasius I muddled things in the 5th century and combined saint valentines day with the feast of Lupercalia to expel the pagan ritual. But the festival was just a mild interpretation was what it had been once.

Later Chaucer romanticized the day in his dream-poem, the parliament of fowls, 1382 writing that birds gathered to choose a mate on that day. Shakespeare also romanticized the day. Then handmade paper cards and love tokens began gaining popularity in the middle ages. The festival spread throughout Europe gaining popularity. In the new world, factory-made cards were being manufactured and in the 19th century, Hallmark cards had occupied the festival’s most popular gift spot.

By the 19th century, it was believed that Cupid had love matching powers. The greek god of love, Eros from 700B.C. was adapted into a Lil cute baby boy with a bow and arrow, Cupid. Valentine's day has been thought to be originated from the Romans and Christianity. In this festival which celebrates love, about 6million people get engaged. In a survey conducted, it was found that it was considered to be the best day to purpose.

Valentine's day is also celebrated as International Quirkyalone Day which is a holiday for singles. It isn't an anti-valentines day event. It is a day to celebrate self-love, and platonic relationships It has been celebrated globally since 2003. On a side note, it is a single awareness day. Galentine day is a day before valentines day when girls have a girl's night out to celebrate their friendship and platonic relationships.

This valentine, let us learn to love ourselves a Lil more and celebrate the diversity of love we have in our life. Text a friend you have been wanting to text, check on your parents and tell them how much they mean to you and spread love. Don't worry singles I have got you, pamper yourself with good foods, celebrate your own company, and know that you are loved and happy Valentine's!