By Brian Pham
Every year, couples get together to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. From giving each other chocolate gifts to exchanging love letters, there are a variety of ways to show your appreciation for someone on Valentine’s Day. While these traditions are sweet, it provides a great contrast to how the holiday started.
HISTORY
There are many legends and tales about the origins of Saint Valentine’s Day, especially with the multiple Saint Valentines throughout history.
One story states that the Saint Valentine that we have the most information about was born in the Roman Empire during the third century AD.
Valentine was in the custody of the noble Asterius who had a blind daughter. Valentine, along with some other priests, baptized the daughter after making a bet with Asterius. If the baptism cured his daughter’s blindness, then Asterius would convert to Christianity.
At this time in history being Christian in Rome was not legal, so when the Emperor Gothicius found out about this he executed Valentine, leading him to become Saint Valentine in the Catholic Church.
Other stories talks about a Valentine being jailed in Rome after helping Christians escape torture in Roman jails.
Valentine eventually fell in love with one of the jailers’ daughters and sent the first Valentine to her before being executed.
There are many origins of Valentine’s Day and some of them conflict, but by the Middle Ages, Saint Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France, characterized as heroic, empathetic and romantic.
This is due to the fact that Saint Valentine was chosen by the church to replace the pagan holiday ‘Lupercalia.’ In order to put in an end to the Pagan holiday, Saint Valentine was chosen to be honored that day.
Romantic connotations came from poets at the time such as Geoffrey Chauncer, who linked romance to his poem “The Parlement of Foules” and even Shakespeare.
Valentine’s Day became more popularized during this time, with the earliest written valentine being from Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife.
Now Valentine’s Day is celebrated throughout the world in many different ways.
GHANA
In Ghana, Valentine’s Day has been celebrated as National Chocolate Day since 2007. TThe government started the holiday to increase chocolate consumption in the world’s second leading producer of cocoa. Ghanaians have taken on the tradition followed by many other countries to give their loved ones chocolate.
JAPAN
Traditionally in Japan, women give men chocolate signify their feelings . There are two types of chocolate: the first one is ‘giri-choco’ which is obligatory chocolate given to coworkers, friends and family. The second type is ‘honmei chocolate’ which is chocolate given to those you like. These are usually either expensive chocolates or homemade. On March 14, men are supposed to return their feelings on ‘White Day’ by giving them a gift.
SOUTH KOREA
Similarly to Japan, in South Korea, Valentine’s Day is a day for women to confess their feelings to men. Chocolate is given as a gift and on March 14, men respond to their feelings on ‘White Day,’ For some singles in South Korea who did not receive any gifts, they will come together on April 14 on ‘Black Day’ to eat black bean noodles with their other single friends.
ARGENTINA
While Valentine’s Day is not as widely celebrated in Argentina, a week of romance and chocolates is celebrated throughout the days of July 1 to July 7 called ‘Semana de la Dulzura’ The popularity of this holiday is rooted in a marketing campaign from the candy manufacturer, Arcor. During this holiday Argentinians exchange chocolates for kisses.
DENMARK
Denmark has its own twist on the act of giving cards. Cards called ‘gaekkebrev’ or ‘joke letters’ are exchanged. These letters are in the shape of snowflakes and contain poems and rhymes. If you can guess who gave you the letter by Easter, you will receive a letter from them. However, this tradition isn’t as widely celebrated anymore and it is more common to give flowers and chocolate. The flowers most commonly given out in Denmark are white ‘snowdrop’ flowers.
Whether it be with chocolates, flowers or another gift, the most important part of Valentine’s Day is giving thanks to those you love!
