The history behind Valentine's Day and Ireland's unique connection
After surviving the chaos of last-minute Christmas shopping, people across Ireland will once again be flocking to stores to pick up cards, flowers, and chocolates for their loved ones this Valentine's Day.
Celebrated around the world, Valentine's Day is often referred to as a Hallmark holiday, but this is complicated, as the day itself has deep historical origins.
Valentine's Day can be linked back to a couple of origin stories, featuring a Saint Valentine. The first is an account of Saint Valentine of Rome, who aided persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire. Since then, the saint has received martyrdom.
In later years, the theme of love became important and was connected to Saint Valentine, with stories of the saint marrying Christian soldiers.
Saint Valentine is a broad name given to many martyrs who are honoured on February 14, the main one being Saint Valentine of Rome. There was also Valentine of Terni, and a third Valentine who was from Africa; however, very little is known about him or his life.
Along with its associations with the Saints, it has long been merged with older folk traditions in different countries.
It has long been associated with a feast day, which was recognised by different Christian religious organisations and originated in Christian kingdoms.
The holiday association with love can't be pinpointed to any specific reason, but folk traditions across Europe may have contributed to this.
Much of this can be pinpointed to the UK, with some regional traditions being documented, including the process of sending cards, flowers and gifts.
There are many literary examples of Saint Valentine’s Day being associated with love, dating back to the 1300s.
One of the first ever associations of the Saint is linked with romantic love, specifically from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls, published in 1382.
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet from 1600, the character Ophelia refers to being “your Valentine”.
The commercial holiday that we know now can be traced back to the late 1700s, when a British publisher released a series of suggested sentimental verses and poetry for young men unable to create them.
It really took off with the creation of the postage stamp and reductions of postage rates, with paper valentines becoming increasingly popular in the 19th century.
From then on, it grew to where we now associate red roses and heart- shaped box of chocolates with the holiday, with many companies making this holiday a priority.
Here in Ireland, we have a unique connection with the holiday, besides our own traditions of celebrating love.
In 1835, Irish Carmelite John Spratt visited Rome, and at the time, he had been gaining notoriety around the world for his skills as a preacher.
When he spoke in Rome, many of the elites made their way to see him, and this is where he received a plethora of gifts.
One of those gifts was from Pope Gregory XVI, which were the remains of none other than Saint Valentine himself.
On November 10 1836, the remains arrived in Dublin and were placed in Whitefriar Street Church.
They had been placed in storage for many years until the 1960s, when they were set up on an altar, with a shrine being constructed around them.
These days, the shrine is visited by thousands of people, and many couples come to pray to Saint Valentine for a great life together.
It's sure to be a busy Valentine’s Day across the world, but in Ireland, take a step back and appreciate our unique association with what is an important holiday for money.