Why Valentine’s Day?

14 February, well-known as Valentine’s Day, is synonymous with LOVE; but where did this loved-up holiday originate?

There are some interesting theories as to why this special love-day is celebrated in February, although the most common is that it was this month in which St Valentine was martyred.  Two hundred years after his appalling death, Pope Gelasius became the head of the Catholic Church, and decreed 14 February as Valentine’s Day, although it was actually only associated with love so much later on:

“Legend has it that Saint Valentine was imprisoned and sent a
message to his lover signed ‘From your Valentine’.”

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“The people of the Middle Ages believed 14 February saw the
start of the mating season for birds.”

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Valentine’s Day – a day to celebrate love.

Many hundreds of years later, Valentine’s Day cards started being mass-produced with the cards of the 1840’s being manufactured with lace, ribbons and other decorations.  In today’s world, there are one billion Valentine’s Day cards purchased EVERY year with approximately 85% of them bought by women.