It’s no secret that the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings absolutely love love! That being said, we also love an occasion that celebrates love, like Valentine’s Day, which is coming up this weekend. Valentine’s Day is an extremely popular holiday with a rich history, so I wanted to explore a little about the origins of the holiday and the meaning behind the well-known traditions associated with the day.

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Valentine’s Day, or Saint Valentine’s Day, began as a Western Christian feast day established by the pope in A.D. 496 in honor of two martyrs, Saint Valentine of Rome and Saint Valentine of Terni, for their brave acts. The feast was held on February 14, the day in which the two Valentines became martyrs. This date happened to be the first day of Spring. English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote Parliament of Fowl’s in 1382 which described bird’s mating in early Spring, around Valentine’s Day. This became a popular depiction of Valentine’s Day in literature, framing the holiday in a romantic light for the first time.

Many of the symbols we associate with Valentine’s Day are recognized all over the world and still have roots in the holidays beginning in Roman Mythology and folklore. The most significant, the Valentine card, comes from the myth that Saint Valentine of Rome sent a farewell letter from his jail cell that was signed “Your Valentine”. Saint Valentine of Rome is also believed to have originated the heart as a symbol of the day, since he would go around to soldiers and persecuted Christians and hand them paper hearts to remind them of God’s love. Additionally, he wore a ring with the Roman god of love, Cupid, engraved on it, making both cupid and jewelry popular symbols of the day.

Other popular Valentine’s Day symbols come from Greek mythology and folklore, which is often a counterpart to that of Rome. For instance, roses are said to have been created by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, when her tears met the ground while she was grieving her mortal lover, Adonis. It became a custom to give one single rose to your one true love. Since the dove chooses one mate for life, the Greeks chose it as a symbol for unconditional love and loyalty. The Greeks were also the first to give their loves chocolate, because they believed chocolate had chemicals that would put them in a happy mood and it would symbolize a sweet life together.

Traditional Roman and Christian beliefs provided the origins for Valentine’s Day. However, many countries and many belief systems today have their own traditions and customs to celebrate the holiday. For example, in Latin America, they celebrate Día del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), where they celebrate not just romantic love, but friendly love with a tradition similar to Secret Santa in the U.S., called Amigo Secreto ("Secret friend"). In Italy, it is customary to offer your loved one a key charm, known as “Saint Valentine’s Key” in order to unlock your love’s heart. The charm is also given to children to provide them with luck and health.

Valentine’s Day has such a rich history and beautiful traditions to help us celebrate and appreciate the ones we love. However you choose to celebrate, make sure it is truly memorable and special for those you are celebrating with. From all of us here at Atlanta Artistic Weddings, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with your loved ones!

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