By Emily Wei, Lifestyle Columnist
How did Valentine’s Day become a billion-dollar industry? Why do we exchange heartfelt messages, chocolates, and flowers with our loved ones? For many, it feels like a cleverly timed corporate scheme – just as we recover from holiday spending, another gift-centered celebration appears. But was Valentine’s Day always about buying presents, or is there something deeper behind it? In reality, its origins are far more intricate. While modern marketing has certainly shaped the holiday, Valentine’s Day is, at its core, a tradition built on connection and love rather than consumerism.
The origin of Valentine’s Day traces back to Lupercalia, an ancient Roman fertility festival held in mid-February. Though vastly different from the holiday we know today, some historians believe elements of this ritual may have influenced later Valentine’s traditions. A few centuries later, St. Valentine became central to the story. While the details remain uncertain, the most popular legend tells of a Roman priest who secretly performed marriages for young couples after the emperor banned young men from marrying, believing single soldiers made better warriors. Another tale suggests that St Valentine was put in jail for performing these secret marriages and, while imprisoned, fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. He sent her letters signed “From your Valentine”, a phrase still used today.
The poet Geoffrey Chaucer played a key role in shaping Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday during the Middle Ages. In one of his poems, he linked February 14th to the mating season of birds, suggesting it was a natural time for love and courtship. This idea took hold, and people began expressing their affection through handwritten love notes, a tradition that eventually evolved into Valentine’s Day cards. During the Industrial Revolution, mass-produced greeting cards replaced handwritten notes, making the holiday more accessible. Companies soon recognized the commercial potential of Valentine’s Day. Especially Cadbury, which introduced heart-shaped chocolate boxes, further cementing the connection between the holiday and sweet treats.
By the 20th century, Valentine’s Day had fully transformed into a major commercial holiday, thanks in large part to companies like Hallmark. Today, it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, with gifts like flowers, chocolates, fancy dinners, and jewelry becoming staples of the celebration. Whether through grand gestures or simple heartfelt moments, it’s important to remember that Valentine’s Day serves as a reminder that love, whether romantic, familial, or platonic, is worth celebrating!
