Goat’s blood, beatings and hysterical priests: the original components of our most tender and romantic holiday, naturally. Valentine’s Day, like most modern celebrations, manages to intertwine real social and emotional vulnerability with the thrill of late-stage capitalism. Yet, as February 14th approaches, there seems to be a held breath, small and wanting, just behind that shiny, pink glare of plastic-wrapped irony. Now, in between wincing at Hinge prompts and realising the “nonchalant” crisis has reached its pinnacle, we must ask ourselves: How did we get here?
Unsurprisingly the origins of Valentine’s Day proves no less emotionally disturbing than its current reality. The true nature of the holiday arose from the ancient Roman festival known as Lupercalia; held each February to celebrate the coming of spring. During the festival, they used to pair off women to men by lottery (sound familiar yet?). Conducted by priests called Luperci, the festivities began with the brutal sacrifice of a dog and a few goats, the blood of which was summarily smeared across the foreheads of two young Luperci who were required to laugh hysterically throughout the process. Following this, a great feast would erupt, in which the skins of the sacrificed animals were used to whip any woman who approached, in turn granting them fertility. Now, I wouldn’t want to imply that this is any worse than what you might have arranged for the holiday, (at the very least the Luperci could plan dinner and a show) but you would be forgiven in wishing for something a little more romantic. Indeed, by the end of the 5th century, Lupercalia was forbidden by the Christian church, replacing the pagan festival with the more sentimental, yet equally dark history of Saint Valentine.
Traditionally, the tale elegises this passionate martyr; imprisoned for wedding Christian couples, forbidden to marry under the Roman Empire – with a pretty 18th century embellishment claiming the captured saint fell for his jailer’s daughter, signing his last letter of farewell “Your Valentine” before his execution. Not only does this origin offer a more poetic perspective to your last-minute card, bought doubtless alongside a Pot Noodle and the last pack of sliced ham, but, for the more committed (or I suppose macabre) young couples of Dublin, the Shrine of St Valentine offers a unique date idea – no bookings necessary. Located in Whitefriar Street Church, relics of the true patron saint of love were brought to Dublin in 1836, including a casket containing his real bones and a vessel stained with the saint’s blood. In 2026, we have to hold onto authenticity wherever we can find it, and for lovers seeking absolution, a blessing from the shrine of Saint Valentine couldn’t hurt to seek out.
Regardless of your feelings. or lack-there-of, towards the ominous 14th, I can’t help but find there remains small specificities that pull us towards sentimentality. On a surface level, the classic tokens of Valentine’s that flourished from the restrained ardour of “courtly love” in the 14th and 15th centuries are found in insipid hearts, smirking cupids and flurries of doves etc. Today, these commercialised symbols might prove gauche and over-saturated and yet, they endure – not in meaning but as evidence of little human notions of tradition and affection throughout history. On Valentine’s Day, authenticity is not found in what we are doing but who we are doing it for- and what it means for them. Herein manifests the real romance of human traditions, existing simply in myriads of specificities; like gifting handmade chocolate in Korea or sharing local wines in Bulgaria. Some Romanian couples take off to the forests to pick wild spring flowers on Valentine’s, whilst others wash their faces with snow in hopes of good luck and new love in the coming season. The Welsh exchange intricately carved wooden spoons, meanwhile, Argentinian valentines endure an entire week of “sweetness”. It is effort and connection that makes traditions like these valuable, and through small unnecessary acts (however embarrassing) we try to make things special for the people we want to value. Therefore, Valentine’s Day at its core, should be used as a reason. Whether this is a reason to act strangely for those who make us feel special, or a reason to think carefully about what or who we really want in our lives – because beneath traditions, however steeped in goat’s blood or chocolate, there is authenticity.
