Valentine’s Day is now synonymous with love and romance, but the origins of how this came about are open to interpretation, and it’s not all hearts and flowers. Here are just a few of the theories! 

There were in fact at least two or three Saint Valentine’s, although some researchers believe they might have been the same man, and the dates have become muddled over the years. All the men were martyred in the third century by the Roman Emperor Claudius on 14 February, hence the reason why we celebrate Valentine’s Day on this date.

The first Valentine was a priest who was arrested and eventually put to death for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. He was said to have miraculously restored the eyesight of a blind girl when challenged to prove the true power of God. The effect was so powerful that doubters were converted, and the Emperor took revenge by putting the priest to death.

The second priest was also a miracle worker who healed the severely disabled son of a scholar with the power of prayer. When news of the miracle reached the Emperor, the priest was arrested and pressured to renounce his faith. When he refused, he was beheaded. 

There was yet another priest named Valentine who lived in the same era, and he rebelled against Emperor Claudius’s decree that Roman soldiers should remain single. He married young couples in secret, until his actions were discovered and he too was executed. 

Other scholars believe that the roots of Valentine’s Day date back even further, to the pagan era. The closeness of spring means that the date is associated with fertility, and the wild festival of Lupercalia. By the late fifth century, Pope Gelasius abolished the pagan festival and replaced it with St Valentine’s Day.

However, this leaves the question of why the date came to be a day to celebrate love and romance. Some credit the poet Geoffrey Chaucer with popularising the day as one for lovers, with the lines in his poem ““For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”

The first Valentine’s Day card is thought to have been sent way back in 1415, by the Duke of Orleans to his wife when he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. 

Valentine’s Day is mainly celebrated in Western nations, including the UK, the US, Canada, France, and Australia. It was originally a day to allow prospective lovers to send notes to the objects of their affection, which would have been difficult or taboo on any other day of the year.

However, over the years the tradition has evolved to include all romantic couples, as a way of celebrating their love with cards and gifts. If you are looking for a unique handcrafted present for your loved one this year, an ideal choice may be a Welsh love spoon. 

These are decorative wooden spoons with a special symbol carved into the handle, such as hearts, flowers, angels, or horseshoes. They were originally given as tokens of affection to a sweetheart, to prove the lover’s commitment and showcase his wood carving skills.