The History of Valentine's Day

The origins of Valentine's Day go back to ancient Rome, but it was on the 15th of February.

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The date changed to 14th of February in 1161 because it was the French King’s birthday & he wanted to feel like everyone was celebrating with him without having to pay for them to do so.

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Answer explanation

It was changed in 496 AD - it was the French King’s birthday though and he had plenty of parties, but this is coincidence

In the 12th Century it was renamed ‘Valentine’s’ because the 14th of February was St Valentine’s Patron Saint day & they wanted celebrations to all be linked to Christianity.

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It is believed that the real reason for the name is due to Emperor Claudius II executing two men — both named Valentine — on February 14th in different years during the Third Century. Honouring their martyrdom is the real reason the Catholic Church promoted the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.

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Answer explanation

It is highly likely he did execute two ‘Valentines' on the same date in different years but wasn’t notable as Claudius executed on average 20 people per day and Valentine was a common name.

The truth is that the Valentines we have today is from people confusing the catholic day with the norman- Galentin’s Day - which celebrated single women & sounded the same

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Answer explanation

THE WRITERS OF PARKS AND RECREATION MADE THIS UP FOR AN EPISODE OF A SHOW

The reality of it lies with Emperor Claudius III's belief that single men made better soldiers - and so banned marriage! The law was changed back but only because he literally had a knife in his back forcing him to do so, otherwise the dagger would have impaled his heart...by a soldier named Valentine.

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Answer explanation

Claudius III did ban marriage and his theory was correct because his armies conquered what we know now as Europe in its entirety. The rest of it though is completely made up & 100% fiction.

For over 600 years, the day had NOTHING to do with romance, instead people prayed all day and then huge feasts were held

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Answer explanation

THIS IS PROBABLY TRUE - DURING THIS TIME THE DAY WAS NOTHING SPECIAL FOR MOST PEOPLE

Henry VIII changed it when he became king, as he LOVED love & made it a public holiday in England, which it remains to this day

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Henry VIII made it a law that every adult had to have the name of their ‘valentine’ written and pinned onto their sleeve, because he wanted everyone to be in love - this is where the phrase ‘WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE’ comes from.

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Answer explanation

He did this as he wanted everyone to have someone special on the day of love, but people just did it to avoid being arrested and tortured for breaking the law.

In 1637, the Emperor of Spain made a law that if you were unmarried & over the age of 14, you had to marry the first person you ‘laid eyes on' but it didn’t work as everyone walked around with their eyes shut

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