Valentine’s Day every year on February 14th places high visibility of hearts and flowers. February 14, a little bit like the day when the first sweet tooth is dropped through the floor, for Valentine’s Day breaks down boundaries, and all around become ones who share one thing: In another, they are united through the universal language of love. From warm correspondence to big romantic gestures, Valentine’s Day celebrates the people who bring joy to life.
The roots of this special day are long and go back to ancient Rome, and the history of Saint Valentine. Legend has it that Emperor Claudius II frowned on marrying young men because he thought single men were better soldiers. A brave priest — who, in fact, defied the edict of the emperor to stay under the emperor’s command in defiance of orders and secretly married couples in love. In the end, he would end up in a jail cell and be executed on February 14th in this time, roughly 269 AD. Saint Valentine came to be regarded as a symbol of love and devotion, and his feast day gradually became the way we now appreciate and celebrate that it was in those days.
Even across the globe, Valentine’s Day is a time not just for celebration but for fun in its own right and interesting ways. People exchange cards, flowers, chocolates and gifts in the United States and the United Kingdom; people enjoy romantic dinners and get to experience special outings together. On February 14th, women in Japan and South Korea give chocolates to their men, while their own men do likewise for White Day a month later. In India, urban youth enthusiastically celebrate this holiday with flowers, gifts, and social media declarations of love. Even Brazil has its own version, Dia dos Namorados, observed on June 12th, proving that love always manages to be celebrated.
The biggest celebrant of Valentine’s Day is the United States, which is closely followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea. And so even though traditions and customs may vary, the essence of Valentine’s Day is quite consistent: love, care, and meaningful connections. Valentine’s Day is a day not just for couples—it is also a time to cherish friends and family or those people who fill your life with happiness. It is a season of remembrance for love.
The simplest but most profound of gifts, for it holds humanity together. In today’s divided world, Valentine’s Day is a mild yet vivid time to remind us love knows no boundaries.
