Who Was St. Valentine? The Story Behind the Holiday of Love
I have always found the timing of Valentine’s Day to be symbolic. It occurs after the joyous, but often frenetic bustle created by Christmas and the New Year. The energy from the holiday season dies down, the weather grows even colder, the days are short, and then, in the depths of winter, Valentine’s Day occurs. Valentine’s Day represents the enduring quality of love and its ability to emerge from the harshest conditions life can offer.
For most, Valentine’s Day evokes visions of whimsically decorated cards, rosy-cheeked cherubs, sweet confectionaries, and fragrant bouquets of crimson roses. Yet we don’t often consider where the holiday came from and why we celebrate. Most are familiar with the fact that there was a St. Valentine who was credited for the holiday's namesake, but who was St. Valentine, and how did his tale inspire this beloved holiday?
The Legend of St. Valentine
The figure of St. Valentine remains veiled in legend, with stories full of romance, heroism, and defiance against tyranny. The most popular tale centers on a third-century priest living under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Known for his strict military policies, Claudius believed that unmarried men made better soldiers, free from the burdens of wives and children. To ensure a steady supply of troops, he outlawed marriage for young men.
In defiance of this decree, Valentine secretly performed marriages for young lovers, binding them in the sacred union of matrimony. His clandestine acts of love soon came to the emperor's attention, and Valentine was imprisoned. Before his execution on February 14 around the year 270 AD, Valentine is said to have penned a note to the young woman, signing it, “From your Valentine.” The phrase endures today as a cherished expression of affection and devotion. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th, the same day St. Valentine was believed to be executed, as a feast day to honor the martyred priest.

Image from Fototeca Gilardi
St. Valentine later became known as the patron saint of love and romance, but he is also known as the patron saint of beekeeping. While in confinement, it’s said that Saint Valentine befriended the jailor’s daughter, a blind girl who loved bees. He taught her how to care for her own bees, and shortly thereafter, she was able to see again. This miracle that took place was attributed to the healing power of bees.
To this day, many beekeepers celebrate his feast day on February 14th by placing honey and wax candles on his altar. They believe that his blessing will help their hives thrive and that his intercession will protect their bees from harm.

Image from Fototeca Gilardi
The Poetic Origins of Romance on Valentine's Day
While Catholics had been observing The Feast of St. Valentine since 496 AD, the day wasn't associated with romantic love until the 14th or 15th century. By the Middle Ages, the legend of St. Valentine had captured the imagination of poets and lovers alike. In 1382, Geoffrey Chaucer, most famously known for The Canterbury Tales, composed a poem titled The Parliament of Fowls, linking Valentine’s Day to the courtly love traditions of choosing mates. This poem was thought to commemorate the marriage of Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. The poem is about birds searching to find their mates on St. Valentine's Day with the help of Lady Nature. An excerpt from the poem reads:
“For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day,
When every fowl comes there his mate to take,
Of every species that men know, I say,
And then so huge a crowd did they make,
That earth and sea, and tree, and every lake
Was so full, that there was scarcely space
For me to stand, so full was all the place.”

Painting The Parliament of Birds by Carl Willhelm de Hamilton (1668-1753)
Though centuries have passed since St. Valentine walked the earth and Geoffrey Chaucer penned his famous poem, their stories continue to inspire. At its core, Valentine’s Day celebrates love’s power to defy boundaries, bridge distances, and kindle warmth amid the chill of winter. It is a time to pause and cherish those we hold dear, to offer tokens of affection both grand and simple.
In a world that often rushes past moments of tenderness, Valentine’s Day serves as a reminder: love, in all its forms, remains our most enduring and treasured gift.
We love LOVE, which is why we’ve created a collection of items to help you celebrate this romantic time of year. It’s filled with traditional gifts for old loves, new flames, best friends, sweetheart children, and everything in between. Shop the Valentine's Day Collection.
Comments
Shannon Blake said:
Just want to thank you for writing these journal posts; they have given me such joy these last few months.
Monica said:
I love reading these journal posts! They’re always exquisitely written and I appreciate the time put into writing them. Loved learning more about St. Valentine. Thank-you!