Valentine's Day is celebrated all over the world, but does anyone really know why we celebrate it? That’s a mystery to nearly everyone in the world because the history of Valentine's Day is, in its own right, terribly unclear. Love, however, is a very, very old emotion, older than the human race itself. Even animals feel love in various ways and bond through social connections, though not in as complex a way as humans. If you've ever watched a mother animal protect her cubs from danger, feed them at the expense of going hungry herself, or teach them how to survive in the world, you would understand. The same holds true for birds and most other creatures, whether magical or mundane. The first love that we experience upon birth is a mother's love, a love that we cannot fully comprehend until later in life. We are often unable to understand how deeply our mothers love us when they sacrifice their needs for ours to help us grow and live a happy life. From the time we are born, our basic needs for survival such as food, water, and shelter are supplied by her in return for nothing, and as we learn to take baby steps into the world, she accompanies us throughout our journey gently and supportively, asking for nothing in return for her efforts. That's one unconditional love—matchless, tireless, and the most persistent. I’m sure many of you know myriad other forms of love, such as a friend's love, a sibling's love, a parent's love, a relative's love, a lover's love, or even a colleague's momentary words of appreciation that cheer you up and make you feel loved. Keep your eyes glued to this page if you would like to discover, alongside me, the historical tapestry of the celebration of love on the popular holiday we know and usually associate with its romantic variety. Let me whisper to you today the mysterious tale behind the observance of Valentine's Day.

It all started in the 8th century. Pope Gelasius I proclaimed the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14 each year on the Catholic Calendar of Saints, in replacement for a pagan fertility ritual that was celebrated on the same day earlier. However, the first to link Saint Valentine with romantic love was the poet Chaucer in the Middle Ages. This was how Valentine's Day became associated with courtly love, a ritual of expressing love and admiration, usually in secret. The Valentine's Day symbol was the outline of a heart, doves, and two winged cupids, which some of you may have heard of; this is a symbol that we still use today. Do you want to know an interesting fact? The custom of expressing love on Valentine's Day spread far and wide throughout Europe, rather quickly, and rumors spread about a High Court of Love where female judges passed verdicts on cases related to love. However, historians believe that this court was, in fact, a hub for people to read romantic poetry and play flirtatious games.

Anyway, who exactly was Saint Valentine? Let me tell you that he was a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd century. Although there are many stories surrounding him, it is unknown which ones are actually true and valid. The legend of Saint Valentine that is popularly discussed today is the result of the amalgamation of all these stories over the centuries. One of those tales goes as follows: At the time of Saint Valentine's life, many Romans were converting to Christianity. However, the then-Roman emperor, Claudius II, was a staunch pagan and created strict laws to regulate what Christians could do. Claudius II believed that love and marriage would hinder the Roman soldiers from doing their duty towards Rome; therefore, he passed a law preventing their marriage. Saint Valentine voluntarily married these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies and became known for believing in the importance of love. He was, however, executed for his crimes, but he kept spreading a strong message until his last minute of life. He cared for the prisoners imprisoned with him, and it is said that he also cured the jailer's daughter of blindness. It is unknown whether he had any romantic connections with said jailer's daughter, but legend has it that his final message prior to execution on February 14, 270, was a letter to her signed "from your Valentine". This is probably when the tradition of sending special love messages called "Valentines" started.

Nowadays, Valentine's Day is a day on which we show love and affection to our loved ones by giving them gifts, chocolates, and cards. Romantic messages, a single red rose, flowers, and many more types of gifts are traditionally exchanged among couples who celebrate Valentine's Day romantically. However, if you do not have a partner, don't forget to love yourself and cherish yourself, because you are the only person you will never be able to leave, and the longest relationship you will ever have is with yourself.

There isn’t one true way Valentine's Day became a thing, but I hope I have managed to shed some light on its historical tapestry and helped you look beyond the mundane threads that appear to sew love together.

Here's a little tip: If you want to attract love into your life, you have to believe in its existence. Love yourself and spread a smile wherever you go. Trust me, the rest will follow.

One fun fact about Valentine's Day is that there are seven more celebrations that build up to Valentine's Day:

Rose Day

Propose Day

Chocolate Day

Teddy Day

Promise Day

Kiss Day

Hug Day

Then finally comes Valentine's Day. Therefore, you have a whole week to enjoy. Read the next topic by Hiya to explore the days of the so-called Valentine's Week more. A few more facts for your curious mind:

• Who knew that Valentine's Day was so popular that nearly 250 million roses were grown in preparation for this very exciting day?


• You have all heard of people being called 'lovebirds', right? Well, guess what! Lovebirds are actually birds. How fascinating! They have beautiful emerald feathers, and their chirping is the most pleasant song to hear.


• St. Valentine wasn't just one person, but two. (Wait what? Never mind.) Don’t you see what history can do to us? It confuses our brains, but at the same time, we don't want to stop fishing for more. More facts are out there, awaiting you. So, go ahead and look for more, because you have all the right to have fun searching for new information about old events to add to your knowledge and enhance your wit and wisdom.

One last thing, I hope everyone had the most amazing Valentine's Week ever!

Sources: -

rosesonly.com.au

- Kyra, Journalist, Proof-reader, Hogwarts Monthly Magazine; Hiya Debnath, Journalist, Editor-in-Chief, Compiler, Publisher, Hogwarts Monthly Magazine.