The article explores the historical origins of Valentine's Day, linking it to ancient Roman pagan festivals and the contributions of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century.
The article delves into the historical roots of Valentine's Day, suggesting that one explanation connects it with Lupercalia, ancient pagan festivals of fertility and purification celebrated in Rome from February 13 to 15. The central figure of Lupercalia was the shepherd god Lupercus, whose priests wore goat skins and shared familial ties with the more widely known deity of woods, pastures, and fields, Faunus. In the early centuries of Christianity, the church sought to replace pagan festivities with its own holy days, potentially leading Saint Valentine to inherit these functions related to love and fertility from Lupercus.
However, a more credible theory ties the tradition of Valentine's Day to later developments and secular motives. This theory posits that the true inventor of the Day of Lovers could be the 14th-century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. In his poem 'Parliament of Fowls', Chaucer portrays a scenario where birds gather to choose their mates, indicating that this selection occurs on 'Saint Valentine's Day'. Hence, the modern celebration of love that characterizes Valentine’s Day may have evolved from these folkloric narratives.
