The Dark Side: Valentine’s Day

Red roses, chocolates, cards and couples having a quality time. These are the common things we think of during the 14th day of February each year. A lot of people anticipate this celebration, and preparing for it to make the love of their life feel special. But have you ever wonder the history of the Valentine’s day? Where and when it started?

It all started in ancient Rome. A celebration dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus, takes place during the month of February. This celebration is called Lupercalia, and also associated with the celebration of the founders of Rome- Remus and Romulus. The celebration begins with the gatherings of priests at the sacred cave where Remus and Romulus to be believed had been cared of a she-wolf. It’s a Pagan festival, so expect for an offering but no worries, it isn’t a human. The priest would offer a goat and a dog. Goat for fertility, and dog for purification. The goat skin will be stripped and dipped into the sacrificial blood then the priest will go to the streets and slap it to the women and crop fields. Roman women don’t have any problem with this for they believed that it makes them more fertile for the years to come. On  same day after the slapping and gentle whipping rituals for the women, they would put their names in the urn. The men will then choose from the names and be paired for that woman for a year and according to history in most cases it ends up in marriage.

The Pagan festival survived during the golden age of Christianity. A Pope named Gelasius declared the 14th of February to be a St. Valentine’s Day in honor of the martyrdom of three men named Valentine, who were executed during February 14 of different years. The first Valentine was a Roman priest, the second one was a bishop from Italy and the third was said to be a saint who died on the same day in the Roman Province of Egypt.

The evangelization and the conversion to Christianity of Emperor Claudios II was the cause of death of the Roman priest Valentine. Before his execution, he wrote a note to Astrius’ daughter signed “from your Valentine”, which later become an inspiration for the today’s romantic words written on cards. The most remarkable legend behind Saint Valentine, was of him helping Christian couple get married during Christian persecution at the time of Emperor Claudios II. It was considered a crime to help or aide Christian during the reign of Emperor Claudios II.

Pope Gelasius I, in hope of eliminating the pagan festival Lupercalia made February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day and that is how the Valentine’s Day was created.

There is a bit of shade on how Christian celebrations were made. Valentine’s day is just like the Christmas celebration. We set aside the dark side, and let it be buried in the past. What matters most is the good things that it brings to humankind.

Love is the pure act of kindness in humanity. It is compassion in action. A perdurable force that binds every race and life here on Earth. A force that can’t be destroyed.

Love endures.

sources:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine

https://www.history.com/.amp/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2

https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day