Valentine?s Day ? the Full Circle of Traditions
The history and importance of Valentine’s Day will become more than evident this February 14th, with widespread gestures of affection, hope and love. With so much pessimism and bad news in the world today, Valentine’s Day is a welcome opportunity to bring optimism, hope and love to the forefront of our minds. But with so much commercialism attached to many religious festivals and national days of importance, it is easy to overlook the history, meaning and importance of Valentine’s Day. How did this day originate, and why are Roman images of Cupid associated strongly with a Christian Saint, at a time of importance to Pagan traditions?
Of the many millions who will be celebrating, or taking the opportunity to make tentative moves, or even propose this February 14th, there is no doubt that many faiths will be represented, and many who have no particular faith at all. Perhaps because the concept of love is at the heart of this occasion, there is barely a soul on earth who cannot appreciate its relevance. But beyond the commercialism, the expensive cards, the hand-tied bouquets and the luxury boxes of chocolates, Valentine’s has a mixed and fascinating history, and even the truth about who Valentine really was is shrouded in much speculation and myth.
The origins of this day lie in pagan times, although Valentine’s Day has seen a remarkable transition from pagan tradition to religious festival, and from religious festival to a day of national celebration – some might argue, of commercial celebration. For most of us, wherever we live in the world, and whatever our beliefs, February 14th has a long standing reputation for being a day of romance and of love. In some cases this is seen as being the love