Valentine’s Day, also known as St. Valentine’s Day, is celebrated every year on 14 February around the world as a time when people show affection to loved ones through cards, flowers, chocolates and messages of love and appreciation.
Where the Name Comes From
The day is named for St. Valentine, though exactly who this Valentine was is unclear.
Historians note that there were several early Christian martyrs named Valentine, and at least one was a Roman priest who lived in the 3rd century AD during the rule of Emperor Claudius II.
According to legend, Valentine defied the emperor’s ban on marriage and secretly married young couples.
When his actions were discovered, he was imprisoned and later executed on 14 February.
Another legend holds that Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter and, before his execution, sent her a letter signed “from your Valentine,” a phrase that survives in modern greetings.
Ancient Festivals and Changing Traditions
Some historians have linked the timing of Valentine’s Day to the ancient Roman fertility festival Lupercalia, celebrated in mid‑February.
Although the exact connection is debated, the festival included fertility rites and pairing‑off rituals in honour of Roman gods, marking the onset of spring.
By the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I established the feast of St. Valentine on 14 February, although the day was not immediately associated with romantic love.
When Valentine’s Day Became About Love
The first known association between Valentine’s Day and romantic love appears in literature from the late 14th century, particularly in the poem “Parliament of Fowls” by English poet Geoffrey Chaucer.
The poem linked the day to the mating of birds, symbolically connecting it to human romance.
Over time, the tradition of sending valentines, messages or cards expressing affection, took hold, especially in England and later in the United States by the 18th and 19th centuries.
Commercially printed greeting cards became popular in the mid‑1800s, and symbols such as hearts, flowers and Cupid became part of the celebration.
Valentine’s Day Today
In many parts of the world, Valentine’s Day has evolved into a celebration of love among partners, family members and friends.
Typical expressions include exchanging gifts such as cards, candies and flowers, particularly red roses, long associated with love and beauty.
In Kenya, Valentine’s Day is widely observed in urban areas, with couples exchanging flowers, chocolates and other tokens of affection.
While the day’s origins are rooted in history and legend, its modern meaning is shaped by contemporary traditions that celebrate human connection and appreciation.