Not long to go until February 14th. The day when lovers exchange cards, gifts, flowers and chocolates with their special 'valentine'. Here's everything you need to know What day is Valentine's Day on this year?
St Valentine’s Day falls on Sunday, February 14th.It’s a day when people show their love and affection for another person – usually in the form of cards, flowers, gifts and messages.
Who was St Valentine?
The details are sketchy. Some say St Valentine was a priest from Rome who lived in the third century AD.
Emperor Claudius II had banned marriages, believing married men made bad soldiers and St Valentine is thought to have arranged marriages in secret. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death for his crimes.
St Valentine apparently fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and sent her a love letter signed ‘from your Valentine’ on February 14th, the day of his execution, as a goodbye.
The name 'Valentinus' is found in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, a book which was compiled between 460 and 544.The feast of St Valentine of February 14th was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among all those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God."Wearing a coronet made from flowers and with a stencilled inscription, St Valentine's skull now resides in the Chiesa di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, on Rome’s Piazza Bocca della Verità.
The ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia
Some people believe the roots of Valentine's Day stem from the ancient, possibly pre-Roman festival of Lupercalia, dedicated to the god Lupercus; a pastoral festival observed on February13th through 15th.Lupercalia subsumed Februa, an earlier-origin spring cleansing ritual held on the same date, which gives the month of February (Februarius) its name. During the festival, young men would draw the name of a woman from a jar, and they would become a couple for the rest of the festival. Men would strip naked and swat young maidens with dog- or goat-skin whips, to increase their fertility. Fertility of course is meaningless without sex, so as time passed, sex became Lupercalia's focus for the average Roman.
Why do some people leave Valentine's cards anonymous?
This trend was started by the Victorians, who thought it was bad luck to sign Valentine's card swith their names. The Victorians also started the rose-giving trend. They were the favourite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and have come to indicate passion and romance. Nowadays, more than 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day every year.
How is Valentine's Day celebrated around the world?
In parts of Europe lovers give each other St Valentine’s keys as romantic gestures and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart.
In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä, which means Friend's Day and focuses on remembering friends.
In Nigeria, Valentine's day is mostly celebrated amongst the teens and youths. Ladies expects the male to give romantic gifts while the male expects a date.
In Mexico, February 14th is a day of national mourning.
In countries like Pakistan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia celebrating the day can result in severe punishment and is seen by conservative Muslims as un-Islamic.
Japanese Valentine’s Day is about all about the men. Women give chocolates to them, and hope favour is returned later in the year.
In South Korea, February 14th is one of 12 ‘love’ days that fall on the 14th of each month. Women give men presents and they reciprocate on 'White Day' a month later. If the gift isn’t returned, singles celebrate White Day by eating jajangmyeon, a dish made from white noodles and black bean sauce.
In Brazil,Valentine's day isn't celebrated in February because it usually falls on or around Brazil Carnival. Instead, Brazil celebrates 'Dia dos Namorados' on June 12. Brazil's celebration honours Saint Anthony - the patron saint of matchmaking and marriages.
Valentine's Day coincides with Chinese New Year this year.
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