02/12/2026
History of Valentine’s Day
The history of Valentine’s Day didn’t start with romance. It started with persecution and martyrdom.
In the 3rd-century Roman Empire, Emperor Claudius II believed unmarried men made better soldiers, so he outlawed marriage for young men. A Christian priest named Valentine secretly performed marriages anyway. He was arrested, imprisoned, and eventually executed around February 14, AD 269.
The idea of romance didn’t appear until over 1,000 years later, during the Middle Ages. Largely due to poets like Geoffrey Chaucer, who connected February 14 with birds choosing mates.
The original Valentine honored covenant and faithfulness, even unto death.
For those wanting to honor their wife, girlfriend, mom, aunt, or sister in a thoughtful and intentional way this Valentine’s season, gift cards are available for therapeutic massage.