Valentine’s Day is an annual celebration of love and affection celebrated by couples worldwide, but what does this international day originate from? In this article, we will explore the man named Saint Valentine and how he came to be associated with love and romance.
Your Valentine
The story of Saint Valentine dates back to the third century AD when Roman Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men. He believed that single men made better soldiers, so he made it illegal for them to marry. Saint Valentine, a priest at this time, defied the emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young couples in love. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested. Restrained in the home of a noble, Valentine healed his abductor’s blind daughter, causing the whole household to convert to Christianity. Then on 14th February, he was sent to his death by decapitation. Before he was killed, he left a note for the daughter signed “Your Valentine.”
A symbol of love
Since then, Saint Valentine has become a symbol of love, romance and devotion. It is believed that he was the first person to exchange love letters while he was in prison. This is why we exchange cards and letters on Valentine’s Day.
However, this story is not 100% legitimate because there is another legend about a man named Saint Valentine. Some accounts say that there was a Bishop of Terni during the same period, also credited with secret weddings and death via beheading on 14th February.
Valentine’s Day was first celebrated in Europe in the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds began to choose their mates on 14th February. This came about thanks to the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote a poem called ‘Parliament of Fowls’. It describes a group of birds which gather together in the early spring – on ‘seynt valentynes day’ – to choose their mates for the year. People in love would exchange gifts of flowers, chocolates and cards.
The modern version of Valentine’s Day has become very commercialised, and couples will often exchange more lavish gifts and go out for romantic meals or weekend getaways.
Valentine’s Day is a great time to show your loved one how much they mean to you. Whether you exchange cards, letters, flowers, chocolates or something else, it will surely be a day that your special someone will remember.
Celebrate with us
Here at The Hope & Anchor, we are lucky to be situated in a romantic spot overlooking the river and surrounded by beautiful greenery. This year we’re hosting a Valentine’s Date Night in our Pavilion restaurant with a great menu perfect for couples who want to treat themselves to a romantic night out, and while we are fully booked, The Pavilion cocktail bar will be open for couples to join us for a drink on this romantic night.
We wish you a happy Valentine’s Day filled with love and romance.
