In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

(An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)Īpproximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.Īccording to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors.ĭuring the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February - Valentine's Day - should be a day for romance. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial - which probably occurred around 270 A.D. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who may have been his jailor's daughter - who visited him during his confinement. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.Īccording to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men - his crop of potential soldiers. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day - and its patron saint - is shrouded in mystery. Every February, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St.

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