Why is Valentines Day the 14th
By: Hannah Feldman
As Valentine’s Week comes to an end, lovers all across the globe gear up to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14. Valentine’s Day is the last day of Valentine’s Week. People pamper their significant other, crush, or potential partner on this day with grand gestures, gifts, romantic dates, and more to express their love. Some people also mark Valentine’s Day as a self-love day and indulge themselves by splurging on self-care or participating in activities they love.
Whether you are single or not, Valentine’s Day is all about being in love and celebrating love. While many couples celebrate this cupid season, not many know the history and significance of Valentine’s Day. If you are one of those people, let us help you out. Read on to learn about the date, significance, history, and interesting facts about the day of love. Valentine’s Day annually falls on February 14.
Reportedly, Valentine’s Day was not celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century. The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. The day became associated with love in the 14th and 15th centuries when notions of courtly love flourished with the association of “lovebirds” of early spring. Additionally, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 ce by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus.
Valentine’s Day is popularly symbolized by the angel of love, Cupid. According to Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, and the bow and arrow of Cupid depict piercing a heart and casting the spell of love. Therefore, this festival is all about celebrating the feeling of being in love. In modern times, Valentine’s Day has become a commercialized festival.
On Valentine’s Day, people make grand gestures for their partners, commemorate their love and companionship, and express their feelings for each other. They do the same by preparing heart-warming surprises and handmade gifts, going on romantic dates, making their partner’s favorite dish at home, spending quality time, and more.
