Why Valentine’s Day Can Be Considered a Christian Holiday
Two of the most well-known Christian holidays are Easter and Christmas. However, many other minor Christian holidays and seemingly secular holidays with religious origins exist. Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays. Keep reading to learn why Valentine’s Day can be considered a Christian holiday.
History of Valentine’s Day
We can trace the history of Valentine’s Day back to ancient Roman festivals, where people paid tribute to the god of fertility. However, over time, the holiday evolved to incorporate Christian traditions.
Ancient Roman Festivals
Valentine’s Day has its roots in an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, which was celebrated from February 13th to 15th. During Lupercalia, men sacrificed a goat and a dog to the god of fertility and then whipped women with the hides of the animals. This bizarre practice was meant to ensure the women’s fertility and easy childbirth. The festival ended with a matchmaking lottery, where young men would draw the names of young women out of a box to become their partners.
Association With Christian Saints
Valentine’s Day was incorporated into Christian traditions in the 5th century, mainly to replace Lupercalia. It is said that Valentine’s Day was named in honor of Saint Valentine, who was a Roman priest or bishop in the 3rd century.
The Role of Saint Valentine and His Legacy
Since Valentine’s Day bears the name of this Christian man, it’s worth diving deeper into who he was and the legacy he left.
Who was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine was likely a Christian priest or bishop who lived in ancient Rome during the 3rd century. At that time, Emperor Claudius II banned marriage to prevent men from refusing to go to war. However, Saint Valentine secretly continued to marry couples. He was eventually arrested and sentenced to death, but before his execution, he wrote a letter to a young girl he had befriended and signed it, “From your Valentine.” This signature is the origin of the tradition of giving Valentine’s Day cards.
St. Valentine’s Legacy
The young girl he befriended and gave the first Valentine to is part of his legacy for another reason: he supposedly miraculously cured her blindness. Catholics continue to carry his legacy through a novena, a special multi-day prayer asking St. Valentine for his intercession to God on their behalf.
Outside of his religious legacy, Valentine’s Day is a testament to the power of love. Protestants, secular people, and individuals of other faiths can all participate in this part of his legacy.
Significance of Red for Valentine’s Day and Christianity
We see a lot of red when we shop for Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. Red is another part of Valentine’s legacy and the day’s connection to Christianity.
Red for Valentine’s Day
Red has been associated with love and passion for centuries, including in ancient Rome when they celebrated Lupercalia. Red hearts were specifically a symbol during the Lupercalia activities, which may be why we still associate red hearts with Valentine’s Day.
Red for Christianity
Red is also very significant in Christian practices, albeit for different reasons. Red represents the blood of Jesus Christ, shed during his crucifixion. It is also the color of martyrs, who were killed for their faith. Since Valentine was a martyr, red continues to bridge Lupercalia to Christian and modern celebrations.
Celebration of Romantic Love as an Expression of Faith
The legend of St. Valentine and red’s significance and symbolism aren’t the only elements of Valentine’s Day that connect the holiday to Christianity. Christianity provides a deep connection between faith and romantic love.
The Covenant of Marriage
The covenant is one of the most important concepts in Christianity, which is an agreement between two parties. The Bible considers the marriage union a covenant between husband, wife, and God, and marriage in general the love between Christ and the Church. Most modern Christians continue to believe in covenants and marriage representation.
Love and Faith
We are celebrating the covenant of marriage created by God when we celebrate romantic love. Even celebrating other romantic relationships, such as dating, points toward the covenant of marriage and Christ’s love for His believers. Celebrating love on Valentine’s Day then becomes an opportunity to reflect on earthly and heavenly love.
Common Activities Associated With Valentine’s Day and How They Tie to Christianity
How can you and your significant other celebrate your love and faith? Here are some common Valentine’s Day activities that you’ll enjoy that relate to Christianity.
Valentine’s Day Activities
Giving cards and flowers are two common activities for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Some people make cards or hand-pick flowers while others purchase these items. The point is to choose something thoughtful that reflects your relationship and care for the other person.
Cards, Flowers, and Christianity
Since St. Valentine supposedly sent a card to a young woman he healed, it’s no surprise that giving cards on Valentine’s Day links to Christianity. Giving flowers also has some ties to the Christian faith, since Catholics often bring flowers to statues of saints and various congregations decorate their churches with flowers.
How the Holiday Has Evolved Into a Secular Celebration
Though these Christian connections exist, many are surprised that Valentine’s Day is such a secular holiday now. Several factors led to this secularization.
Cultural Changes
Christianity was the predominant world religion for a long time, specifically Catholicism. As cultures changed, such as Britain’s turn to Protestantism and the rise of other religions, Valentine’s Day lost some of its religious origins.
Commercialization
Valentine’s Day continues to lose its religious origins because of commercialization. As companies sell more merchandise around this holiday, they remove religious aspects and focus on universal ones, such as romantic love, to increase inclusivity.
Tips for Modern Christian Couples Who Want To Celebrate Valentine’s Day
As a modern Christian, you may feel torn about celebrating Valentine’s Day. With such awful Roman origins and extreme secularization, you may not want to. However, the following tips can help you celebrate if desired.
Focus on the True Meaning of Love
You and your significant other can pray together and thank God for your relationship when get together. You can also use Valentine’s Day as a reason to bless others with God’s love by volunteering or donating to charity.
Plan Intentionally
As you plan your celebrations, do so intentionally. Don’t give into secular options. Plan something that you will enjoy regardless of what secular, commercialized society says you should do.
Now that you know why Valentine’s Day can be considered a Christian holiday, you can celebrate accordingly. Consider gifting something meaningful that honors your religion if you plan to give gifts, such as the 1611 original King James Bible. Your significant other will love reading this beautiful edition of God’s enduring word.
