Valentine's Day

The story of Valentine's day is a blend of Roman pagan festivals with Christian martyrdom honouring saint named Valentine, especially one who secretly married soldiers against Emperor Claudias 2nd's decree and signed a letter "from your Valentine" before his execution on February 14th, later linked to romance by Chaucer and associated with love through traditions of sending cards and flowers. 

Origin & History of Valentine's Day 

There were several Christian martyrs named Valantinus, but the popular legend comes from 3rd century Rome. Emperor Claudias restricted the marriage of young soldiers, as he believed that single men fought better. A priest named Valentine defied the order and secretly solemnized the marriages of young soldiers. He was imprisoned and executed on 14th February of 269 CE. While in prison, Valentine befriended and healed the jailors blind daughter, and signed a note, "From your Valentine" The phrase struck the popular imagination. In the beginning it was only a saint's feast day. The romantic turn came much later. 

Geoffrey Chaucer connected this for his verse:
For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, When every bird cometh there to choose his mate. 
The poetic association touched people's sentiments. Letters courting a woman with the intention to marry her, used to quote the phrase, "From your Valentine" had become a trend in 15th century England and France. In 18th to 19th century printed cards replaced handwritten message. The Victorians industrialised it with lace cards, flowers and chocolates. 

But my opinion is that Saint Valentine might have existed, but the romantic narrative associated with him was crystallised, standardized, and popularized primarily by the upcoming printing industry, and later commercialised. 

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