New Delhi: As Valentine’s Day 2026 draws near on 14 February, hearts everywhere stir with anticipation for romance, gifts, and heartfelt gestures. This beloved occasion, steeped in ancient rituals and timeless legends, has blossomed from shadowy pagan festivals into a global celebration of love that transcends cultures. Imagine whispering sweet nothings amid candlelit dinners or exchanging red roses under starry skies—such moments capture the magic that makes Valentine’s Day special. Yet beneath the chocolates and cards lies a captivating tale of fate, folklore, and forbidden unions, blending Christian martyrdom with Roman revelry. For those planning Valentine Week 2026 festivities, understanding its roots adds a layer of enchantment to the modern romance.
From secret marriages in ancient prisons to birds mating in medieval skies, Valentine’s Day weaves a tapestry of intriguing stories. As we approach Valentine’s Day 2026, it’s the perfect moment to peek into its folklore before diving deeper—teasing just enough to spark your curiosity for what’s ahead.
History of Valentine’s Day
Pagan roots in ancient Rome
Long before heart-shaped boxes flooded shops, Valentine’s Day echoed the wild Roman festival of Lupercalia. It was a lively festival from 13-15 February honouring Faunus, protector of sheep from wolves, and celebrating Rome’s wolf-nursed founders, Romulus and Remus. At the Palatine Hill’s Lupercal cave, priests sacrificed goats for fertility and a dog for cleansing. Young noblemen—smeared with blood, then milk—ran nearly naked through streets, lightly whipping women with bloody goat-hide straps called februum (hence “February”). These taps promised easy births and full crops. Feasts capped it, with men drawing ladies’ names from a box for fun pairings. Pope Gelasius I banned this rowdy rite in 494 AD, birthing Valentine’s Day instead.
Rise of Saint Valentine: Legends and martyrdom
In the third century AD, a brave priest named Saint Valentine of Rome defied Emperor Claudius II. The emperor banned soldiers’ marriages, believing single men fought fiercer battles. Valentine secretly wed young couples in hidden rites, becoming love’s champion. Jailed, he miraculously healed the warder’s blind daughter and sent her a farewell note signed “From your Valentine”—sparking today’s cards. Beheaded on 14 February around 270 AD, his feast day eclipsed pagan Lupercalia. A second Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, shares the martyrdom tale, blending sacrifice with romance in folklore.
Chaucer’s romantic spark ignites medieval love
Fast-forward to the 14th century, when Geoffrey Chaucer ignited Valentine’s Day as a romantic rite in his poem The Parliament of Fowls. He linked it to birds choosing mates on 14 February, blending courtly love with folklore. French and English lovers exchanged flowers, jewels, and gloves; France’s Duke of Orleans sent prison love letters in 1415. By the 1500s, written “valentines” emerged, often handmade with Cupid motifs—the winged Roman god of desire whose arrows sparked passion.
Victorian boom and commercial takeover
Valentine’s Day gradually evolved over centuries. By the 18th and 19th centuries, exchanging simple tokens of affection such as cards and flowers became common throughout Europe and later in the United States. Commercialisation in the 20th century further cemented Valentine’s Day as a global cultural phenomenon celebrated with gifts, sweets and romantic dinners.
Global spread and modern twists, including India
Today, Valentine’s Day pulses worldwide, from Japan’s obligatory giri-choco to India’s vibrant Valentine Week (7-14 February) with Rose Day to Chocolate Day. While many people still embrace classic customs, others focus on more personalised or authentic expressions of love, including celebrating friendships (Galentine’s Day) or self-love — a shift especially noticeable among younger generations.
From ancient rites to poetic transformations and contemporary reinventions, Valentine’s Day has continually reshaped itself through the centuries. This evolution reflects changing ideas of love, connection and what it means to celebrate the heart.