Where Does the Valentine’s Day Tradition Come From?

At Grupo Anderson’s, we’re excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day, a holiday that goes back centuries and remains a symbol of love and romance around the world. With a rich, fascinating history dating back to the Roman Empire, Valentine’s Day has endured over the years as a tribute to love and friendship.

According to Catholic tradition, in the second half of the 3rd century there were at least three saints named Valentine who could be associated with this celebration. However, the most popular story is that of a Roman physician, Valentine. According to this version, Valentine became a priest and defied Emperor Claudius II “the Goth” when he banned young people from marrying, since he believed single men made better soldiers. So Valentine kept marrying young couples in secret until he was discovered by Roman soldiers, and for that he was beheaded on the orders of Claudius II in 270 AD.

Why Is Valentine’s Day Celebrated on February 14?

Later, in 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I set February 14 on the Catholic liturgical calendar as the feast day of Saint Valentine.

Although some historians attribute this date to the story of Saint Valentine, there is also a theory that the holiday was actually meant to replace Lupercalia, a pagan fertility festival with origins in Ancient Rome.

From Tragedy to Romance

Thanks to his story, Saint Valentine became the patron saint of love, young people and marriage according to Catholic tradition, and he grew popular in France and the United Kingdom in the 14th century. It was during this time that famous poets began writing about Saint Valentine, linking him to romantic love. One example is Geoffrey Chaucer and his poem “The Parlement of Foules,” who is considered the creator of the celebration.

Later, in the 18th century, exchanging Valentine’s cards became popular in the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe and the United States, which is why Pope Paul IV decided to remove this tradition from the liturgical calendar, since there were different versions of its origin.

So, Who Was Saint Valentine?

According to Catholic history, in 3rd-century Rome, Emperor Claudius II banned marriage because he needed soldiers for his army, and men with families weren’t willing to die for their country. That’s why he preferred they had no one waiting for them at home except their elderly parents.

Valentine, a priest who opposed the emperor, chose not to follow the rules to the letter and secretly invited couples so he could marry them. Many young couples came to idolize him until his death in 270, after he was discovered and sentenced to death by Claudius II. He died on February 14, which is why that day honors the patron saint of lovers, in gratitude for celebrating love and affection. Years later, he was canonized.

Love in Art

Over time, great artists have captured romantic images in their works that celebrate love and, of course, Valentine’s Day. Among the most notable examples are Rembrandt’s The Jewish Bride, Van Gogh’s The Siesta, Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s In the Garden, Francesco Hayez’s The Last Kiss of Romeo and Juliet and, of course, Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.

How Is Valentine’s Day Celebrated Today?

Today, Valentine’s Day is not considered a religious holiday, but it is still a day to honor love.

In Western countries, as in Mexico and most of Latin America, February 14 is known as “Día del amor y la amistad” (the Day of Love and Friendship), and it’s celebrated with gifts like flowers, cards or chocolates, between couples or friends.

A fun fact: in Colombia, the day is celebrated on September 18, since in February Colombians have expenses related to the school season, and there was no special celebration in September.

This Valentine’s Day, Grupo Anderson’s celebrates love in all its splendor. We’ll be waiting for you at our restaurants with open arms and hearts full of joy, where every bite is a toast to love and happiness!