Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, oversees construction of his basilica at Terni. Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several Martyred Saints of Ancient Rome. The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman Terni is an ancient town of Italy, capital of Terni province in southern Umbria, in the plain of the Nera river. 14th century French ms. Paris, workshop of Richard de Montbaston.
Also called	St Valentine's Day
Observed by	Western and Western-influenced cultures
Type	Christian, Cultural, multinational
Significance	Lovers express their feelings to each other
Date	February 14
Observances	Sending greeting cards and gifts, dating. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German
Related to	The Night of Sevens, a Chinese holiday that also relates to love. Qi Xi ( also known as Magpie Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar; thus its name White Day, a similar holiday celebrated in Japan and Korea one month after Valentine's Day. is a Holiday celebrated on March 14, one month after Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German In the Americas and Europe, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America A greeting card is an illustrated folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 14th is a major festival in the Western hemisphere. Confectionery is a set of Food items that are rich in Sugar; modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several Martyred Saints of Ancient Rome. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries (AD 1000&ndash1299 Courtly love was a Medieval European conception of ennobling love which found its genesis in the ducal and princely courts of Aquitaine, Provence

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines. " Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. In Roman mythology, Cupid (Latin cupido) is the god of Erotic Love and Beauty. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar A greeting card is an illustrated folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment ^[1] The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain. In the United States, the imported fashion leading to a mid-nineteenth century Valentine's Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow. ^[2]

The U. S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The Greeting Card Association is a United States Trade organization representing the interests of Greeting cards, Gift wrapping paper and Stationery The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines. ^[3]

History

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several Martyred Saints of Ancient Rome. ^[4] Until 1969, the Catholic Church formally recognized eleven Valentine's Days. The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae). ^[5]

Valentine of Rome^[6] was a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 The Via Flaminia was a Roman road leading from Rome to Ariminum ( Rimini) and was the most important route to the north His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome. ^[7] and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church is a Roman Catholic church in Dublin, Ireland maintained by the Carmelite order

Valentine of Terni^[8] became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian. Terni is an ancient town of Italy, capital of Terni province in southern Umbria, in the plain of the Nera river. Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino). ^[9]

The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of 14 February. The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia A martyrology is a catalogue or list of Martyrs (or more precisely of Saints, arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him. Some sources say the Valentine linked to romance is Valentine of Rome, others say Valentine of Terni. Some scholars (such as the Bollandists) have concluded that the two were originally the same person. The Bollandists are an association of scholars - originally all Jesuit, but now including non-Jesuits -- philologists and historians -- who since the early seventeenth century ^[10]

No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the fourteenth century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost. ^[11]

An overview of attested traditions relevant to the holiday is presented below, with the legends about Valentine himself discussed at the end. Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a Holiday celebrated on February 14

Concerning February fertility festivals

Though popular modern sources link unspecified Graeco-Roman February holidays alleged to be devoted to fertility and love to St Valentine's Day, Professor Jack Oruch of the University of Kansas argued^[12] that prior to Chaucer, no links between the Saints named Valentinus and romantic love existed. The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU or just Kansas) is a public research university with campuses located in Lawrence, Kansas City Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. Thus, it is immaterial to the history of Valentine's Day whether or not in the ancient Athenian calendar the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera. The Attic calendar is the Calendar that was in use in ancient Attica, the ancestral territory of the Athenian Polis. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** Zeus (zjuːs in Greek: nominative: Zeús /zdeús/ genitive: Diós; Modern Greek /'zefs/ in Greek mythology In the Olympian pantheon of classical Greek Mythology, Hera (ˈhɪərə or /ˈhɛrə/ Greek) or Here ( in Ionic and Homer

Main article: Lupercalia

In Ancient Rome, February 15 was Lupercalia, an archaic rite connected to fertility, without overtones of romance. For the saint by the name 'Lupercus' see Marcellus of Tangier. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor For the saint by the name 'Lupercus' see Marcellus of Tangier. Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general Festival of Juno Februa, meaning "Juno the purifier "or "the chaste Juno," was celebrated on February 13-14. A festival said to be of Juno Februata or Juno Februa, though it does not appear in Ovid 's Fasti was described by Alban Butler, famous Pope Gelasius I (492-496) abolished Lupercalia. Pope

A portrait of English poet Geoffrey Chaucer by Thomas Occleve (1412). Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. Thomas Occleve (or Hoccleve) (c 1368 &ndash 1426 English Poet, was born probably in 1368/9 for writing in 1421/2 he says he was fifty-three years The earliest known link between Valentine's Day and romance is found in Chaucer's Parliament of Foules

Chaucer's love birds

The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer:^[13]

For this was on seynt Volantynys day

Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate]. The " Parlement of Foules " (also known as the "Parliament of Fowls" "Parlement of Briddes" "Assembly of Fowls" or "Assemble of Foules" The " Parlement of Foules " (also known as the "Parliament of Fowls" "Parlement of Briddes" "Assembly of Fowls" or "Assemble of Foules" Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat.

This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399 For other Anna's of Bohemia see Anne of Bohemia (disambiguation Anne of Bohemia (May 11 1366 &ndash June 7 1394 also known as Good ^[14] A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. ^[15] (When they were married eight months later, he was 13 or 14, and she was 14. )

On the liturgical calendar, May 2 is the saints' day for Valentine of Genoa. This St. Valentine was an early bishop of Genoa who died around AD 307. ^[16][17] Readers have assumed that Chaucer was referring to February 14 as Valentine's Day; however, mid-February is an unlikely time for birds to be mating in England. ^[18]

Chaucer's Parliament of Foules is set in a fictional context of an old tradition, but in fact there was no such tradition before Chaucer. The speculative explanation of sentimental customs, posing as historical fact, had their origins among eighteenth-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. An antiquarian or antiquary is one concerned with Antiquities or things of the past Alban Butler ( October 13, 1709 - St-Omer, France May 15, 1773) English Roman Catholic Priest Most notably, "the idea that Valentine's Day customs perpetuated those of the Roman Lupercalia has been accepted uncritically and repeated, in various forms, up to the present"^[19]

Swedish calendar showing St Valentine's Day, February 14, 1712

Medieval and modern times

Using the language of the law courts for the rituals of courtly love, a "High Court of Love" was established in Paris on Valentine's Day in 1400. For the saint by the name 'Lupercus' see Marcellus of Tangier. Courtly love was a Medieval European conception of ennobling love which found its genesis in the ducal and princely courts of Aquitaine, Provence Courtly love was a Medieval European conception of ennobling love which found its genesis in the ducal and princely courts of Aquitaine, Provence The court dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against women. Judges were selected by women on the basis of a poetry reading. ^[20][21]

The earliest surviving valentine is a fifteenth-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his "valentined" wife, which commences. Charles of Valois Duke of Orléans ( November 24, 1394 &ndash January 5, 1465) became Duke of Orléans in 1407 following the murder

Je suis desja d'amour tanné
Ma tres doulce Valentinée… (Charles d'Orléans, Rondeau VI, lines 1–2)

At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415. ^[22]

Valentine's Day was mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-01): "Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's Day. Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 "

In 1836, relics of St. Valentine of Rome were donated by Pope Gregory XVI to the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several Martyred Saints of Ancient Rome. Pope Gregory XVI ( September 18 1765 &ndash June 1 1846) born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church is a Roman Catholic church in Dublin, Ireland maintained by the Carmelite order Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world In the 1960s, the church was renovated and relics restored to prominence. [3] In American culture, Saint Valentine's Day was remade in the 1840s; as a writer in GFTraham's American Monthly observed in 1849, "Saint Valentine's Day. . . is becoming, nay it has become, a national holyday. "^[23]

In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on 14 February was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on 14 February. For earlier forms of the General Roman Calendar see the Tridentine Calendar, the General Roman Calendar as in 1954, General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German "^[24] The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan and in Malta where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Vatican II calendar. For the international Balzan prize and its donator Eugenio Balzan see Balzan Prize Balzan (or Ħal-Balzan, pronounced bal-tsan Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics, or people who identify as Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church.

Valentine's Day postcard, circa 1910

Valentine card, 1862: "My dearest Miss, I send thee a kiss"

The reinvention of Saint Valentine's Day in the 1840s has been traced by Leigh Eric Schmidt. ^[25] In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 1847 ( MDCCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Esther Howland (1828 - 1904 was an artist and businesswoman who is responsible for popularizing Valentine's Day greeting cards The year 1828 ( MDCCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Worcester (ˈwʊstɚ is a City in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Her father operated a large book and stationery store, but Howland took her inspiration from an English valentine she had received, so clearly the practice of sending Valentine's cards had existed in England before it became popular in North America. The English practice of sending Valentine's cards appears in Elizabeth Gaskell's Mr. Harrison's Confessions (published 1851). Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (née Stevenson 29 September 1810 &ndash 12 November 1865 often referred to simply as Mrs Mr Harrison’s Confessions is an episodic 1851 long short story or Novella (over 29000 words by Elizabeth Gaskell about a doctor in provincial Since 2001, the Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual "Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. "

In the second half of the twentieth century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts in the United States, usually from a man to a woman. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates. A rose is a perennial flowering Shrub or vine of the Genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. In Mineralogy, diamond is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in Jewellery (also spelled jewelry, see spelling differences) is a personal Ornament, such as a necklace ring or bracelet made from Gemstones

The day has come to be associated with a generic platonic greeting of "Happy Valentine's Day. Amor Platonicus The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino " As a joke, Valentine's Day is also referred to as "Singles Awareness Day. Singles Awareness Day (SAD is a humorous Holiday celebrated on February 14 (although "

In some North American elementary schools, students are asked to give a Valentine card or small gift to everyone in the class. See also Primary education An elementary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory education known as elementary The greeting cards of these students often mention what they appreciate about each other.

The evolving legend

The Early Medieval acta of either Saint Valentine were excerpted by Bede and briefly expounded in Legenda Aurea. The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Varagine is a collection of fanciful hagiographies or lives of the Saints that became a late medieval ^[26] According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.

Legenda Aurea still providing no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail. In an embellishment to The Golden Legend, on the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he wrote the first "valentine" himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved,^[27] as the jailer's daughter whom he had befriended and healed,^[28] or both. ^[29] It was a note that read "From your Valentine. "^[27]

In another apparently modern embellishment, while Valentine was imprisoned, people would leave him little notes, folded up and hidden in cracks in the rocks around his cell. He would find them and offer prayers for them.

Equivalents and in other cultures

Part of a series on Love
Basic Aspects
Love
Love (scientific views)
Human bonding
Historically
Courtly love
Greek love
Religious love
Types of emotion
Erotic love
Platonic love
Familial love
Puppy love
Romantic love
See also
Unrequited love
Problem of love
Interpersonal relationship
Sexuality
Sexual intercourse
Valentine's Day
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In the West

Europe

Valentine's Day also has regional traditions in the UK. Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Overview Psychologists have created many descriptive theories of love in an effort to understand the full range of experiences and behaviors associated with love Human bonding refers to the development of a close Interpersonal relationship between family members or friends Courtly love was a Medieval European conception of ennobling love which found its genesis in the ducal and princely courts of Aquitaine, Provence Greek love is a relatively modern coinage (generally placed within quotation marks intended as a reference to Male bonding and intimate relations between males as practised Whether religious love can be expressed in similar terms to interpersonal love is a matter for philosophical debate Amor Platonicus The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino In Sociology, familial love is a type affinity or natural affection felt between members of a group bound by common ancestry or blood ties or through Friendship and Puppy love is an informal term for feelings of Love, particularly between young people during Adolescence, so-called for its resemblance to the adoring worshipful NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** Unrequited love is love that is not openly reciprocated even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired Altruism is selfless concern for the welfare of others It is a traditional Virtue in many cultures and central to many religious traditions An interpersonal relationship is a relatively long-term association between two or more people Generally speaking human sexuality is how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located In Norfolk a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.

In Wales many people celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen's Day) on 25 January instead of or as well as St Valentine's Day. Dydd Santes Dwynwen, literally meaning 'Day of Saint Dwynwen' in Welsh, is considered to be the Welsh equivalent to Valentine's Day and is celebrated Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers. Saint Dwynwen, also known as Dwyn, Donwen, and Donwenna, is the Welsh Patron saint of lovers

In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "Saint Valentin", and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several Martyred Saints of Ancient Rome.

In Denmark & Norway Valentine's Day (14 Feb) is known as Valentinsdag. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional It is not celebrated to a large extent, but a lot people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one. In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag ("All Hearts' Day") and was launched in the 1960s by the flower industry's commercial interests, and due to influence of American culture. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. It is not an official holiday, but its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only bested by those for Mother's Day.

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. As the name says, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones. The same goes for Estonia, where Valentine's Day is called Sõbrapäev. Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Nevertheless, it has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love is traditionally 12 March, the Saint Gregory's day. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" ("Valentine — first saint of spring"), as in some places (especially White Carniola) Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring. White Carniola (Bela Krajina Weißkrain Weiße Mark) is a traditional Region in southeastern Slovenia on the border with Croatia.

In Romania, the traditional holiday for lovers is Dragobete, which is celebrated on February 24. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Dragobete is a traditional Romanian holiday celebrated on February 24. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the It is named after a character from Romanian folklore who was supposed to be the son of Baba Dochia. In Romanian mythology Baba Dochia, or The Old Dokia is a name originating from the Byzantine calendar which celebrates the Martyr Evdokia on 1 March. Part of his name is the word drag ("dear"), which can also be found in the word dragoste ("love"). In recent years, Romania has also started celebrating Valentine's Day, despite already having Dragobete as a traditional holiday. This has drawn backlash from many groups, reputable persons and institutions^[30] but also nationalist organizations like Noua Dreaptǎ, who condemn Valentine's Day for being superficial, commercialist and imported Western kitsch. Noua Dreaptă (New Right is an ultra- nationalist organization in Romania, founded in 2000. Kitsch /kɪtʃ/ is a term of German or Yiddish origin that has been used to categorize art that is considered an inferior tasteless copy of an existing

In Turkey, Valentine's Day is called Sevgililer Günü which translates into "Sweethearts' Day". Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches

According to Jewish tradition the 15th day of the month of Av - Tu B'Av (usually late August) is the festival of love. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Tu B'Av ( Hebrew: ט"ו באב the fifteenth of the month ''Av'') is a minor holiday in the Hebrew calendar. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them (Mishna Taanith end of Chapter 4). The Mishnah or Mishna (he משנה "repetition" from the verb shanah he שנה or "to study and review" is a major work of Rabbinic Judaism In modern Israeli culture this is a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.

North America ==== North America ====

In North America, February 14th is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines. " Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. In Roman mythology, Cupid (Latin cupido) is the god of Erotic Love and Beauty. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar A greeting card is an illustrated folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment ^[31] The mid-nineteenth century Valentine's Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow. ^[32] The U. S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The Greeting Card Association is a United States Trade organization representing the interests of Greeting cards, Gift wrapping paper and Stationery The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines. ^[33]

In Guatemala, Valentine's Day is known as "Día del Amor y la Amistad" (Day of Love and Friendship). Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Although it is similar to the United States' version in many ways, it is also common to see people do "acts of appreciation" for their friends. ^[34]

South America

The exchange of chocolates and flowers is traditional on Valentine's Day.

In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados (lit. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld "Day of the Enamored", or "Boyfriends'/Girlfriends' Day") is celebrated on June 12, when couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards and flower bouquets. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. This day was chosen probably because it is the day before the Festa junina’s Saint Anthony's day, known there as the marriage saint, when traditionally many single women perform popular rituals, called simpatias, in order to find a good husband or boyfriend. Festa Junina, typically termed São João (Saint John as it is centered on that saint's day is the name of annual Saint Anthony ( August 15, 1195 – June 13, 1231) also venerated as Saint Anthony of Lisbon and Saint Anthony of Padua, The February 14's Valentine's Day is not celebrated at all, mainly for cultural and commercial reasons, since it usually falls too little before or after Carnival, a major floating holiday in Brazil — long regarded as a holiday of sex and debauchery by many in the country^[35] — that can fall anywhere from early February to early March. Brazilian culture is a culture of a very diverse nature An ethnic and cultural mixing occurred in the colonial period between Native Americans, Portuguese Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March Promiscuity refers to sexual behavior of a man or woman who casually has sex with many partners

In most of South America the Día del amor y la amistad (lit. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a "Love and Friendship Day") and the Amigo secreto ("Secret friend") are quite popular and usually celebrated together on the 14 of February (one exception is Colombia, where it is celebrated on the third Friday and Saturday in September, because of commercial issues). Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Events in September It is the start of the academic year in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere. The latter consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa). Secret Santa is a Western Holiday tradition in which members of a group are randomly assigned other members to whom they anonymously give a gift

Asia

Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day is celebrated in some Asian countries with Singaporeans, Chinese and South Koreans spending the most money on Valentine's gifts. Singapore China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː ^[36]

In Japan, it has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. This is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from the words giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"). is a Japanese value roughly corresponding to " Duty " " Obligation " or even "burden of obligation" in English but one with a far more This contrasts with honmei-choko (本命チョコ); chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning "friend". By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged. is a Holiday celebrated on March 14, one month after Valentine's Day. On March 14, men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or marshmallows; hence "White Day". However, lingerie and jewelry have become common gifts. Lingerie is a term for fashionable and alluring women's Undergarments It derives from the French word linge, "washables" — as in faire le linge

In South Korea, there is Pepero Day, celebrated on November 11, when young couples give each other romantic gifts, in particular a long, chocolate cookie named Pepero, thus Pepero Day. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare The date '11/11' is intended to resemble the long shape of the cookie. There is an additional day for single people, Black Day, celebrated on April 14. Black Day ( April 14) is an informal tradition for single people (a

In China, the common situation is the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loves. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National In Chinese, Valentine's Day is called (simplified Chinese: 情人节; traditional Chinese: 情人節; pinyin: qing ren jie). Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use

Similar Asian traditions

In Chinese culture, there is an older observance related to lovers. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history It is called "The Night of Sevens" (Chinese: 七夕; pinyin: Qi Xi). Qi Xi ( also known as Magpie Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar; thus its name Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use According to the legend, the Cowherd star and the Weaver Maid star are normally separated by the milky way (river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar. Altair (α Aql / α Aquilae / Alpha Aquilae / Atair is the brightest Star in the Constellation Aquila and the twelfth brightest star Vega (α Lyr / α Lyrae / Alpha Lyrae ( or) is the brightest Star in the Constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night The Milky Way (a translation of the Latin Via Lactea, in turn derived from the Greek Γαλαξίας (Galaxias sometimes referred to simply The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a Lunar calendar with those of a Solar calendar.

An observance on the same day in Korea is called Chilseok, but its association with romance has long faded. The Chilseok is a Korean traditional Festival which falls on every July 7th by the Lunar calendar.

In Japan, a slightly different version of 七夕 (called Tanabata, which is said to mean 棚機 a weaver for a god) is celebrated, on July 7th on the Gregorian calendar. meaning "Evening of the seventh" is a Japanese Star Festival, derived from the Chinese star festival Qi Xi (七夕 " The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today However, it is never regarded that the celebration is even remotely related with the St. Valentine's Day or lovers giving gifts to each other.

The Middle East

In Iranian culture, Sepandarmazgan is a day for love, which is on 29 Bahman in the Jalali solar calendar of Iran. To best understand Iran and its people one must first attempt to acquire an understanding of its ancient culture Sepandārmazgān (in Persian سپندارمذگان is the celebration day of love and earth in ancient Iranian culture The Iranian calendar or Solar Hejri (تقویم هجری شمسی؛ سالنمای هجری خورشیدی Taqwim Hejri Shamsi Salanmay Hejri Khurshidi) is an astronomical The corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar is 17 February. The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori However, Valentine's day is currently celebrated semi-secretly in Iran despite some restrictions made by government; young Iranian boys and girls may be seen on this day going out and buying gifts and celebrating. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics.

In Saudi Arabia in 2008, religious police banned the sale of all Valentine's Day items, telling shop workers to remove any red items, as the day is considered an un-Islamic holiday. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. This ban created a black market of roses and wrapping paper. Gift wrapping refers to the act of enclosing a Gift in some sort of material ^[37]

See also

• Sailor's Valentines
• Vinegar valentines
• Antivalentinism
• Hallmark holiday

References and notes