The mysterious Valentine's Day: a festival full of myths and customs!

The mysterious Valentine's Day: a festival full of myths and customs!

Nürnberg, Deutschland - On February 14, 2025, many people worldwide commit Valentine's Day, which tries its origin to a tragic history. According to vorarlberg.orf.at , Saint Valentinus is said to have been executed as a martyr in 269 AD. This historical figure, worshiped as the patron saint of the lovers, has little to do with the common practice of giving flowers and gifts. Originally, Valentine's Day was nothing more than a commemorative day for the veneration of God before the church symbols and traditions were mixed with the topic of love. In the centuries afterwards this day developed into a festival of romantic gestures, led by bard and poets in the Middle Ages.

traditions and modern customs

The tradition of Valentine's Day celebrations goes back to the 14th century when the first celebrations were documented in honor of the lovers in France. The specific practice of gift flowers comes from ancient Rome, where women had to take part in a “love lottery” at a festival in honor of the goddess Juno. The current importance of Valentine's Day, as we know it, only developed in England in the 18th century, where gifts and greeting cards became popular, which was also carried to America by the US emigrants. Today zdf.de that Valentine's Day brings additional sales to the German retail every year, whereby red roses in particular are among the most popular gifts. The demand for these flowers is significant, especially during the winter months, which leads to higher prices.