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Including the history behind Valentine’s holiday.

Goodhousekeeping.com | BY CAMERON JENKINS | UPDATED: JAN 12, 2023 | Valentines Day | Shield

When you start to think of Valentine’s Day, you may envision gorgeous flower bouquets, heart-shaped balloons, tons of sweet treats, and sentimental cards that are sure to make you blush. But have you ever stopped to think about how this tradition of celebrating love on February 14 came to be? Look no further than our list of interesting and fun Valentine’s Day facts to inform you and your loved ones about the history behind why this special day of love is celebrated.

While some of these little-known truths about the holiday may be expected, like how much Americans spend on the perfect V-Day gift or when the very first Valentine’s message was sent, others are more unusual. In fact, some of the earlier customs associated with the holiday were not romantic at all, but instead focused on fertility and included sacrificing animals. (We know, the complete opposite of a lovey-dovey grand gesture.)

Regardless of how much or how little you already know about the most loving day of the year, these factoids are sure to come in handy as an icebreaker for your Valentine’s Day party and will definitely give you the upper hand at any Galentine’s Day trivia night.

1. St. Valentine wasn’t just one person.

You may already know that Valentine’s Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine — but there’s actually some confusion surrounding which St. Valentine the holiday technically honors. According to History.com, there are at least two men named Valentine that could’ve inspired the holiday, including one Valentine who was a priest in third century Rome. As the story goes, this Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage (he thought it distracted young soldiers), illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death.

Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and that he actually sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed “From your Valentine.”

2. Valentine’s Day has its roots in an ancient Pagan festival.

Though some historians believe that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine on February 14, others believe that the holiday actually has its origins in a Pagan fertility festival called “Lupercalia,” which was celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. Dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus, the day was celebrated by sacrificing animals and smacking women with animal hides, a practice that was believed to encourage fertility.