Reasons of the heart

Lupercalia was outlawed by the end of the 5th century when Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day to commemorate the death of the patron saint.

Greek god of love

At the other side of the ancient world, in Greece, Valentine’s Day would not be complete without the mention of Cupid, or to the ancient Greeks, Eros, the god of love.

Greek mythology describes Eros as the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love as well as beauty, pleasure, and even procreation.

With bow and arrow, Eros hit unaware men and women with golden arrows to arouse desire for the opposite sex, and leaden arrows to ignite aversion. Eros was known to hit not only mortals but gods as well and played with their emotions.

Archaic poetry presented Eros as a handsome immortal, irresistible to both humans and gods. By the Hellenistic period of 323 BC, however, Eros was already being portrayed as a playful child, often causing mischief with couples—what we know as the image of Cupid today.

Valentine’s Day through the years

February 14 wasn’t associated with love and romance until the Middle Ages. According to

in France and England, Valentine’s Day was believed to coincide with the beginning of the bird mating season.

Valentine cards began much later in the time of the Roman Empire. Founded in 27 BC, the Empire dissolved in 1453.

Valentine cards are said to begin in 1415. The first card came in the form of a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles was captured during the Battle of Agincourt in France—a part of the Hundred

and France. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London and while in jail, he wrote the poem for his wife.

Birds, cards

As it went on to become a popular celebration globally, Love Day came in various versions. But still, the festivities remained yes, all about deep feelings for one’s beloved.

In 18th century Great Britain, friends and lovers of various social classes exchanged small tokens of appreciation such as handwritten letters.

Printed cards began rolling out by the 1900s, replacing the handwritten notes with text written by the printing company’s writers, no longer the lover’s original words coming from the heart.

Today, according to the British newspaper Valentine’s Day ranks as the second largest card-sending holiday, right next to Christmas.

Tastes, colors of love

From cards, expressions of love have become sweeter with chocolates.

traces this tradition to the 19th century when Richard Cadbury, son of the Cadbury chocolate company founder, promoted various chocolate concoctions by giving away boxes of the

Cards are thrilling, chocolates are sweet, and so are roses which have also made Love Day blooming through the years.

American-based Bustle Digital Group predates to the receiver. intended message.

Floriography set the red rose as an expression of passionate love. Thus, it has been the

Valentine’s Day.

But hey, Love Day is not only about passion. For as Blaise Pascal, 17th century French Enlightenment philosopher, famously put it, “ The heart has its reasons that reason does not know.”

And as there are various reasons one loves to

what one really means: yellow roses simply for friendship, pink to signify warm affection, white for purity.