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Why February 14?

Why February 14?

Date: 2013-02-13
In 496 A.D., February 14 was declared in the name of St. Valentine by Pope Gelasius. It remained a Church holiday until 1969, when Pope Paul VI took it out from the calendar.

On February 13 and 14, the ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage, so honoring her was thought to be a fertility rite.

At the feast held the next day, the women would write love letters and stick them in a large urn. The men would pick a letter from the urn and for the next year, pursue the woman who wrote the chosen letter. This custom lasted until the 1700's when people decided their beloveds should be chosen by sight, not luck.

But people continued to write love notes and exchange gifts on February 14, and hence this day was dedicated to the priest who died trying to bring lovers together, and to all the lovers the world over. Thus, Valentine became a patron saint and a spiritual overseer of this loving annual festival of love and togetherness.