Did You Know: How Valentine's Day Got its Name

by Bronwyn Berger-Hughes Feb 14th 2011 at 9:56AM

We celebrate St. Valentine's Day on February 14 every year. But do you know WHY it's named "Valentine's" day?

The actual name "Saint Valentine" refers to 14 different martyred saints of ancient Rome. There isn't much that is known about the Saint Valentine for whom St. Valentine's Day is supposedly named after, except for his name and the fact that he was buried north of Rome on February 14!

St. Valentine's Day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, it has since been removed from the Roman Calendar of Saints and therefore isn't celebrated as a religious or holy holiday anymore. As a "holiday," St. Valentine's Day is meant to celebrate love and affection between loved ones. Since the 1800s it's been common to share notes or cards (particularly hand made) with each other on the holiday. However, it wasn't until well after 1950 that the holiday became associated with the purchasing and giving of gifts of all kinds.

Today, St. Valentine's Day is represented commonly by the symbols of a heart and of Cupid, the God of affection and desire. Cupid is depicted often as a cherub, an infant or toddler angel, with a bow and arrow ready to be aimed at a loved one.
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