The History of Valentine’s Day, and Why We Celebrate

Valentine’s Day may be associated with romance, but the history of the holiday isn’t exactly lovey-dovey. Here are the facts you may not know.

Whether you love Valentine’s Day or hate it, one thing is clear: The holiday goes way back. And while it’s now known for kissing, Valentine’s Day gifts, and hard-to-get dinner reservations, the origins of the holiday are far less romantic. Here, the Valentine’s Day history that wouldn’t make it into a rom-com, including a martyred saint and a massacre.

When Is Valentine’s Day?

First, a quick refresher: Valentine’s Day always falls on February 14, but the day of the week varies by year.

In 2026, Valentine’s Day will be on a Saturday—perfect for making it a great night out (or in).

Some historians believe it has roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Held yearly on February 15, Lupercalia celebrated the coming of spring and fertility. It involved animal sacrifice, lots of drunken revelry, and possibly a ritual in which men and women were paired off by choosing names from a jar.

Who Was St. Valentine?

St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers, people with epilepsy, and beekeepers, among other things, but the real-life history of the man is unknown. There are various legends about a Christian figure named Valentine or Valentinus who was martyred on February 14 in the 3rd century AD.

In one story, St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who refused to convert to paganism and was executed by Emperor Claudius II in about 270 AD. Prior to his execution, he miraculously healed the daughter of his jailer. As the legend goes, he then fell in love with the daughter and, on the day of his execution, wrote her a letter signed “from your Valentine.”

In another story, St. Valentine was executed because he secretly performed weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden to marry according to an edict from Claudius II.

The facts are so murky that the Catholic Church removed him from the General Liturgical Calendar in 1969, though it still recognizes him as a saint. Whoever the man was, the feast day in his name replaced the pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia.

How Did a Christian Holiday Become a Modern-Day Celebration of Romance?

Before the 14th century, St. Valentine’s Day was primarily about honoring a Christian martyr. The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer is credited with connecting St. Valentine’s Day to the idea of romance. Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, the era of courtly love, when broad, romantic statements of devotion—poems, songs, paintings—celebrated partnership. In his circa 1382 poem “The Parliament of Fowls,” possibly written to commemorate the engagement of King Richard II, he envisions birds gathering on St. Valentine’s Day to choose their mates. The goddess Nature declares: “You know that on Saint Valentine’s Day / By my statute and through my governance / You come to choose — and then fly your way — / Your mates, as I your desires enhance.” From then on, Valentine’s Day was seen as a day of romantic love. So we can thank poetry—the ultimate romantic art form—for our modern-day idea of the holiday.

Yet the romantic holiday isn’t immune to tragedy. During Prohibition in Chicago, seven men were killed by a gang organized by Al Capone on February 14, 1929.

The Valentine’s Day Massacre became a flashpoint in Prohibition history, with police and lawmakers going after the gangs and mobs that had formed in cities to control then-illegal substances like alcohol.

Why Do We Send Valentines?

Love letters, of course, go way back; if the legend of St. Valentine is true, his missive to the jailer’s daughter probably counts as the first valentine. But historians say that the earliest valentines as we think of them today came about in Europe and the United States in the 17th century. They were possibly inspired by the German tradition of exchanging Freundschaftskarten, or friendship cards. These early valentines were handmade—sometimes very elaborately with lace and ribbons—and inscribed with sentimental messages. Over time, as printing and postal services advanced, valentines became a big commercial business. Today, according to Hallmark, about 145 million valentines are sold every year, not counting the boxed sets often used for classroom exchanges. We think DIY Valentine’s card ideas are still worth trying, though!

What Is Galentine’s Day, and How Is It Related to Valentine’s Day?

A modern and fun take on the holiday, Galentine’s Day (or Palentine’s Day) is a recent addition to Valentine’s Day history. It seems to have been popularized by Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation. Celebrated on February 13, it’s a day to honor the friends you love. Galentine’s Day gifts have become a nice way to celebrate the people who mean so much to you.

Is Valentine’s Day an Official Holiday?

While Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world—in the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia, South Korea, France, Argentina, and Mexico, among other countries—it’s no longer an official Catholic holiday. And unfortunately for all the romantics out there, it’s not a bank holiday or day off.

What’s the Meaning of Valentine’s Day?

Over the centuries, Valentine’s Day has been a religious feast day and a secular day of romance. In its earliest incarnation, it was even a ritual celebrating fertility and springtime. Given how much it’s changed over time, we say the meaning of Valentine’s Day can be whatever you want. You can skip the celebrations completely, buy yourself some chocolate and flowers, or express your love and appreciation for the people in your life, whether they’re coworkers, romantic partners, friends, or family members.

Selfadvocatenet.ca Valentines Day Message 2026

Valentine Day Recipes 2026 

These Red Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are delicious, rich, and perfectly sweet to match their beautiful appearance. Moist and fluffy red velvet cake batter with a deep cocoa flavor is perfectly balanced by a homemade vanilla cream cheese frosting and festive sprinkles on top in these Valentine’s Day cupcakes.

Ingredients

For the red velvet cupcakes:

• 4 cups (510 gram) all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons Dutch cocoa powder, sifted
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 cups (168 gram) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups (399 gram) granulated sugar
• 6 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cups (222 gram) vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups (360 gram) full-fat sour cream
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 teaspoons red gel food coloring
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar

For the cream cheese frosting:

• 3 block (8 ounces/250 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups (342 gram) unsalted butter, softened
• 10 ½ cups (1260 gram) confectioners’ sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 6–9 tablespoons red and pink sprinkles

Instructions

Make the red velvet cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-tin muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl, add the softened butter and sugar, then beat together with an electric hand mixer (or use a stand mixer) for 4-5 minutes on high, until light and fluffy.
4. Add in eggs and beat until well-combined. Next, add in oil, sour cream, vanilla, red food colouring, and vinegar, then beat again until combined and smooth.
5. Add the whisked dry ingredients into the bowl, then beat on low speed until just combined and smooth.
6. Divide the batter into the 12 cupcake liners. You can use a cookie scoop to easily add the batter to the liners.
7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

Make the cream cheese frosting:

1. In a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat together the butter and cream cheese at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until fluffy. (You can also beat in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer)
2. Scrape the sides of the bowl, then gradually add in confectioners’ sugar in small additions, beating on low between each addition and scraping at the sides.
3. Add vanilla and salt. Turn stand mixer to high speed and beat for 2-3 minutes.
4. Transfer the frosting into a large piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip. Carefully pipe the frosting in a classic swirl pattern onto each cupcake. Start in the center and move in a circular pattern closer to the edges, then move up and back towards the center.
5. Top each cupcake with with sprinkles and serve.

Notes

How to store: Because of the cream cheese frosting, you’ll need to refrigerate these red velvet cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

How to freeze: You can also freeze these red velvet cupcakes. If you are planning to do this, I recommend freezing them before frosting.

• Freeze before frosting: Wrap the unfrosted cupcakes in plastic cling wrap and place them in a freezer-friendly airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. Allow the cupcakes to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before icing and serving.
• To freeze frosted cupcakes: Place them in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 hours until the frosting is firm. Then, remove the cupcakes and wrap them tightly in plastic cling wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn, placing them back in the freezer to freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

This is on website called aheadofthyme.com go to the link here

 

Heart Pizza

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Equipment

• 2 Heart Cookie Cutters (large & small)

Ingredients

• Pre-made Pizza Crust
• Pizza Sauce
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Pepperoni

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Use a heart cookie cutter on a pre-made pizza crust (or if you prefer, shape fresh dough into hearts)
• Add sauce, cheese, and toppings
• Cook until cheese is melted and crust is golden, about 10-15 minutes

This on a website called essicaetcetera.com go to the link here 

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