Valentine’s Day didn’t start with roses, restaurant bookings, or heart-shaped anything. In fact, its origins are far messier, darker, and far less romantic than the version we know today. What began as a mix of ancient ritual, religious martyrdom, and social anxiety slowly transformed into a day about love, intimacy, and, eventually, consumption. Understanding that evolution helps explain why Valentine’s Day still carries so many mixed feelings, from excitement to scepticism to outright avoidance.
The pagan roots that came first
Long before Valentine’s Day was associated with romance, it was tied to Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival held in mid-February. Lupercalia was focused on fertility, purification, and warding off evil spirits, not exactly candlelit dinners. The celebrations involved rituals that were physical, chaotic, and deeply symbolic of reproduction and survival. It was less about love as we think of it now and more about ensuring continuity, health, and abundance in an uncertain world.
As Christianity spread, many pagan festivals were either absorbed or rebranded. Lupercalia was eventually replaced with a feast day honouring St Valentine, although even here the story is unclear. There were likely multiple Valentines, all martyrs, and their histories are fragmented at best. What remains consistent is that none of them were particularly romantic figures in the modern sense.
How romance entered the picture
The association between Valentine’s Day and romantic love didn’t emerge until the Middle Ages. Poets like Geoffrey Chaucer began linking the day with courtly love, suggesting it was the time of year when birds chose their mates. This idea caught on, especially among the upper classes, where structured romance and written expressions of affection were already part of social life.
Love, at this stage, was idealised and often distant. Valentine’s messages were poetic, restrained, and more about devotion than desire. Still, this marked a shift. The day began to centre emotional connection rather than ritual or religion, setting the foundation for what would come next.
From handwritten notes to mass production
By the 18th and 19th centuries, Valentine’s Day became more accessible. Literacy rates rose, postal systems improved, and printed cards made expressions of affection easier and more socially acceptable. What was once reserved for elites became something ordinary people could participate in.
This is also where commercialisation took hold. Cards, chocolates, and gifts turned Valentine’s Day into an economic event as much as an emotional one. Love became something you demonstrated through purchasing, not just words or actions. That idea stuck, for better or worse.
Why it feels complicated today
Modern Valentine’s Day carries all of these layers at once. It is romantic, commercial, nostalgic, and sometimes uncomfortable. It can feel prescriptive, telling us how love should look and when it should be expressed. For some, it is a meaningful pause to focus on connection. For others, it highlights loneliness, pressure, or the performance aspect of relationships.
What is interesting is that Valentine’s Day has slowly expanded beyond couples. It now includes friendships, self-love, chosen families, and a broader definition of intimacy. That shift feels less accidental and more like a quiet correction, moving away from rigid expectations and back towards something more personal.
What it has become, and what you can make of it
At its core, Valentine’s Day has always reflected the values of the time it exists in. From fertility rituals to poetic longing to consumer culture, it adapts. Today, there is more room to define it on your own terms. That might mean celebrating quietly, rejecting it entirely, or using it as an excuse to check in with yourself or someone you care about.
The history reminds us that Valentine’s Day was never fixed or sacred. It was always changing. And that makes it easier to let go of the pressure and decide what, if anything, it means to you now.
