Our American Stories The True Story of Valentine’s Day: From Martyrdom to Modern Romance
Feb 16, 2026
A narrative history tracing Saint Valentine from third-century martyrdom to modern romance. Roman politics, wartime marriage bans, and secret weddings set the scene. Medieval poets and papal decisions reshape the feast into courtly love. The story follows evolving customs, American connections, and the huge economic footprint of today’s Valentine traditions.
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Secret Marriages In Defiance
- Saint Valentine secretly married Christian soldiers to their brides despite the emperor's ban.
- Couples visited his cell with notes and flowers to thank him while he awaited execution.
The Origin Of 'From Your Valentine'
- Valentine healed the jailer Asterius's blind daughter and fell in love with her according to legend.
- On his last night he wrote "From Your Valentine," which started a lasting tradition.
Feast Day To Courtly Love
- Pope Gelasius designated February 14 as St. Valentine's Day in 496 AD, fixing the feast day.
- Geoffrey Chaucer later linked the feast to courtly love by associating it with birds' mating season.
