|
|
|
|
|
Origins of the Valentine
| The widely practiced tradition of sending cards,
letters, and poems as part of Valentine's Day got a late start
in America, but the tradition of celebrating the day has a long
history. The origins of St. Valentine's Day stem from the days
of Claudius II in the third century, when a Roman priest named
Valentinus was persecuted and imprisoned for helping
Christian
martyrs. On the eve of his beheading, he wrote a farewell note
to his friend, the daughter of the jailer. He signed the note
"From Your Valentine." The day was February 14th. |
| Valentinus' death took place at a time of year
when the pagan feast Lupercalia was celebrated. The
beheading,
which was public, was probably incorporated into the
pagan celebration.
As Christianity spread throughout the world, Christian priests
began to look favorably upon pagan festivals, turning
them into
Christian celebrations. It is likely that Lupercalia became
increasingly associated with Valentinus and his departing message,
leading to the eventual popularity of sentimental cards
and
letters. |
|
| In England, the celebration of February 14th grew during the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries through gift giving and
a growing superstition that the meeting of one's true love had
special significance on that day. In the Americas, colonists
brought with them the customs of Valentine's Day, and expressions
of affection were handmade, handwritten, and usually hand-delivered.
During the nineteenth century, new printing techniques,
as well as creativity on the part of certain
individuals, combined
to foster new designs and ways of producing valentines.
Valentines
had previously been manufactured and imported from England,
but by mid-century, Worcester, Massachusetts,
emerged as a center for the production of valentine cards.
Esther Howland, a Worcester native, established one of the first
commercial valentine
enterprises in America. The Whitney Company, also
of Worcester, followed her lead as a major manufacturer
of valentines, operating
until 1942. |
|
|
|
This site and all contents © 2004 American Antiquarian
Society
Last updated January 25, 2001
| |
|
