Valentine's Day: 2000 years of love and commerce

2024-02-14T04:10:06.699Z

Highlights: Valentine's Day: 2000 years of love and commerce. But who is this Valentine’s Day that brings joy to florists and lovers? In an unpublished story, Virginie Girod traces the ancient origins of this festival, which became a commercial celebration in the 20th century. According to legend, a Christian named Valentine was beheaded on February 14, 269 near Rome for having dared to marry young couples in secret, against the advice of the emperor. In the 5th century AD, the Roman Empire was largely Christianized. Pope Gelasius I wishes to erase remaining pagan practices.

But who is this Valentine’s Day that brings joy to florists and lovers? In an unpublished story, Virginie Girod traces the ancient origins of this festival, which became a commercial celebration in the 20th century. According to legend, a Christian named Valentine was beheaded on February 14, 269 near Rome for having dared to marry young couples in secret, against the advice of the emperor. Martyr, Valentin becomes the patron saint of lovers. A great story...probably false. In the 5th century AD, the Roman Empire was largely Christianized. Pope Gelasius I wishes to erase remaining pagan practices. It particularly targets Lupercalia: around February 15, the Romans had the habit of organizing purification rites which accompanied the end of winter and allowed the return of spring. As with the Roman Saturnalia, replaced by Christmas celebrations in order to obtain popular support, Gelasius I simply undertook to transform the pagan rite with a Christian celebration, dedicated to marriage and by extension to fertility. He sets his sights on Valentine, supposedly martyred 150 years earlier, to turn back the Lupercalia. In the Middle Ages, no one celebrated Lupercalia anymore, but the end-of-winter celebrations transformed into carnivals which generally took place in February. It is in the Anglo-Saxon world that the myth of Valentine's Day is experiencing a new mutation. At the beginning of the 19th century, in the United States, on February 14, people got into the habit of exchanging cards. The practice is being emulated in France. But it was only after the Second World War that Valentine's Day became fully accepted as the celebration of lovers, whether married or not. Emptied of its spiritual substance, it has become a celebration, tinged with red roses and heart-shaped chocolates, which especially delights traders. Themes covered: Valentine's Day, couple, Antiquity, Paganism