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Valentine’s Day 2025: Many individuals take this day as an opportunity to practice self-love, focusing on personal well-being.
Valentine’s Day 2025: History, Significance & Why We Celebrate on February 14 . (Image: Shutterstock)
Valentine’s Day 2025 History, Significance: February is called the month of love. From Rose Day to Kiss Day, the week-long celebration has everyone hooked and on the final day — Valentine’s Day, people express their love and admiration for their loved ones by planning dates and getaways. But have you ever wondered about the origins of this special day?
Valentine’s Day 2025: History And Significance
Saint Valentine, a Roman priest from the third century, is the inspiration for this holiday. There are many tales about the priest who was known for his generosity and kindness. According to one narrative, St. Valentine refused to convert to paganism and was executed by Emperor Claudius II in 270 AD. Before being executed, he healed his jailer’s daughter.
According to belief, he eventually fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and, on the day of his execution, wrote her a letter inscribed “from your Valentine.” Another popular belief is that St. Valentine was executed because he secretly performed weddings for soldiers who were barred from marrying under Claudius II’s edict.
Valentine’s Day 2025: Key Facts
- Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet, is credited with tying St. Valentine’s Day to the concept of romance. Chaucer lived during the Middle Ages, a period of courtly love marked by expansive, romantic expressions of love (poems, ballads, and paintings) that glorified partnership.
- On February 14, 1929, seven men were assassinated by an Al Capone-led gang during Prohibition in Chicago. The Valentine’s Day Massacre became a watershed moment in Prohibition history, with police and lawmakers targeting the gangs and mobs that had formed in cities to control then-illegal substances such as alcohol.
- Galentine’s Day is a more recent addition to Valentine’s Day history. On February 13, it is a day to honour the friends you care about. Galentine’s Day presents have become a popular way to honor those who matter a lot to you.
- While most individuals send out sweet holiday messages, Victorians used valentines to reject a suitor, known as a vinegar valentine.
Valentine’s Day 2025: Why We Celebrate The Day Of Love On February 14?
Celebrated on February 14, Valentine’s Day is dedicated to love and affection. Its origins trace back to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility and love. It is popularly linked to St. Valentine. Over the years, the occasion evolved from a religious observance to a celebration of romantic love, and by the 18th century, exchanging handwritten love notes became common.
Valentine’s Day is now marked by gifts, flowers, and cards, symbolising not only romantic relationships but also love for friends, family, and even pets. Many individuals take this day as an opportunity to practice self-love, focusing on personal well-being and growth.
