Valentine's Day February 14th. The holiday of all lovers - valentine's day. History of Valentine's Day

A wonderful holiday dedicated to love - February 14, Valentine's Day, also called St. Valentine's Day, is known and honored all over the world. This is a great occasion to please your loved ones with gifts or attention, flowers and visits to your favorite establishments - different countries have their own customs and traditions. There is also a place where this holiday is officially forbidden to celebrate. This is Saudi Arabia. But we live in a free country, so let's celebrate! Interesting, what is it? Where did this romantic tradition come from?

Of course, there were also love stories and tragedies. During the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius II, the wars went according to schedule, but many soldiers did not want to join the ranks of the legion. Since they were almost all married, they needed to be at home more often, and not leave for distant lands for several years. The emperor found a way out - he issued a decree that all recruited legionnaires were required to be unmarried. And so it begins

Since prohibitions are prohibitions, and nothing can be done about love, the warriors secretly met with their beloved and wanted to eventually get married. There was a man who tried to help poor couples be together, who stood guard over love and relationships. This is a priest whose name symbolizes the most romantic holiday of the year - Valentine. He lived in Rome, a town called Terni. Everyone who wanted to consolidate their relationship turned to him. And the good priest agreed and helped the lovers in every possible way. romantic the history of the holiday on February 14 shows that this feeling has no boundaries. Valentine not only secretly married couples, but also did not refuse to help the legionnaires look after their loved ones. Men relied on him in cases that would have deserved dismissal and possible execution. Warriors passed letters and notes to their chosen ones, flowers and various gifts. He fought for love, and if the couple quarreled or broke up, but love did not fade, Valentine brought them back, reconciled and pointed out both the mistakes and the joys of the relationship. The priest served as a romantic messenger and pimp, for which he earned the honorary title of martyr, saint.

But all the beautiful stories about love, great, recorded in books, in poetry and prose, end tragically. The emperor found out about such a person who did not heed his decree and seriously violated the rules. The priest Valentine was arrested and imprisoned. He was sentenced to death and killed in front of everyone. This is such. Although it is sad, the holiday is bright and kind. The priest gave his life for love, although he himself became a participant in a tragic story.

Valentine was in love with the jailer's daughter, in whose barracks he was imprisoned. This love was a secret, Valentine decided to write to the beauty on the day before his execution. The girl read the note after the man was executed. The signature was such "your Valentine". That is how they decided to name the holiday, which was approved by the Catholic Church. Valentine was given the title of saint. Interestingly, its traditions came from here - notes, called valentines, are given to loved ones, just as the priest once wrote a farewell letter to his beloved, telling her about his unhappy love. Only in our time these are good notes that reveal to the addressee the feelings of the donor, for which the priest fought so hard.

Today February 14 is the traditional holiday of love. It is especially popular with brides and grooms - this day is chosen for marriages, declarations of love, offering a hand and heart. The tradition of giving gifts and confessing love on Valentine's Day is not new, only in European countries this holiday has been known since the 12th century. And in Japan, February 14 began to take root in the mid-30s. In different years and eras, this romantic day has become popularized, but almost the whole world is waiting and preparing for Valentine's Day.

Not only the history of the holiday on February 14 beautiful and romantic. People all over the world do high-profile deeds inspired by her and feelings for loved ones. For example, Japanese couples give each other chocolate, a company specially produces sweet gifts dedicated to this particular day. We, like many Slavs, buy flowers, go to restaurants and arrange romantic candlelight dinners. Exquisite French men and women set an example for the whole world by buying expensive and beautiful jewelry.

February 14 is the day when the whole world celebrates Valentine's Day, or Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is a holiday of romance, love and tenderness. On this day, it is customary to give flowers, sweets, balloons and other nice gifts to beloved and dear people.
An integral attribute of the holiday - "Valentine" - a small postcard with a declaration of love. Valentine cards are usually made in the shape of a heart and decorated with roses, kissing angels, doves or kittens.

It’s even hard to imagine that twenty years ago we didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. Now, in our country, every minute of this day, several hundred red roses are sold, and around the world, several thousand per minute.

By the way, according to an ancient legend, red roses became the classic emblem of Valentine's Day: Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, rushing to her beloved Adonis, stepped on a bush of white roses, and her divine blood dyed them red.

history of the holiday

Holidays of love have an even longer history than Valentine's Day, they have existed since the days of ancient pagan cultures. So, the Romans in mid-February celebrated a festival of eroticism, called Lupercalia, in honor of their goddess of love.

As for Valentine, his history dates back to about 269. At that time, the Roman Empire was ruled by Emperor Claudius II. The warring Roman army experienced an acute shortage of soldiers for military campaigns, and Claudius decided that marriage was the main enemy of his soldiers, because a married legionnaire thought more about his family than about the glory of the empire.

In order to preserve the military spirit in his soldiers, the emperor issued a decree forbidding legionnaires to marry. Only the soldiers did not fall in love less. Fortunately for them, there was a priest named Valentine from the Roman city of Ternia, he was not afraid of the imperial wrath and secretly united loving hearts in front of the altar.

When Claudius found out about this, Valentine was sentenced to death. Valentine himself was also in love. His chosen one was the jailer's daughter, to whom the priest wrote a letter on the eve of the execution, signing it: "Your Valentine."

Subsequently, as a Christian martyr, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine's Day. True, since 1969, as a result of the reform of worship, St. Valentine was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church (along with other Roman saints, information about whose life is contradictory and unreliable). But this does not prevent him from being one of the most popular saints, who is worshiped by all lovers.

According to another legend, Valentine's Day arose as a memory of the Roman patrician Valentine, who was a secret Christian and converted his servants to the new faith. After he performed the wedding ceremony for two of them, all three were detained by the guards. As a representative of the upper class, Valentine could avoid execution, but his servants did not have such a privilege.
However, the legends about St. Valentine have been living in the minds and hearts of people for several centuries, and the holiday of all lovers gives moments of happiness and helps to discover true feelings.

Traditions of different countries

How to celebrate and whether to celebrate Valentine's Day at all - everyone decides for himself. In any case, this is a great opportunity to express your feelings. Here's how it happens in different countries.
Let's start with Europe. There, the mass celebration of Valentine's Day began in the 13th century. During this time, almost every European country has acquired its own characteristics of this holiday.
In Italy, Valentine's Day is called "sweet day", since the most common gift for this holiday is sweets.

In Poland, it is customary to visit the Poznan metropolis, where the relics of St. Valentine are allegedly buried, and his icon, which is considered miraculous, hangs. The Poles believe that pilgrimage to her helps in love affairs.

The French on this day give jewelry and write quatrains on postcards, sending them to each other.

The English on Valentine's Day send love messages not only to loved ones, friends and acquaintances, but even to their pets. And according to an old tradition, on February 14, unmarried girls get up before sunrise, stand near the window and look at the passing men. According to legend, the first man they see is the betrothed.

In pre-revolutionary Russia, despite the disapproval of the Orthodox Church, the holiday was popular in noble circles. Unmarried girls made valentines - silk, lace, smelling of perfume, with dried or fresh flowers - and put them on their beloved. In many wealthy families, receptions were held on this day, where they danced, held various competitions and draws. For example, the names of all the ladies gathered at the evening were mixed in the hat. Pulling out a note with a name, the gentleman gallantly courted and danced with the lady he got, whether it was a sweet girl, an old woman of advanced years, or a little girl. After the revolution, the tradition of the holiday was forgotten for a long time, but in the 1990s it was resumed. The first admirers were teenagers and young people, for whom romance in a relationship is above all. But every year in our country there are more and more fans of Valentine's Day.

In the US, according to the Greeting Card Association, valentines are the most popular holiday cards after Christmas. In addition to postcards at the beginning of the last century, it was customary for Americans to send their brides quite expensive (because of sugar) marzipans at that time. When sugar fell in price, Americans began to make caramel dedicated to Valentine's Day. Caramel was made in two colors - red and white: red meant passion, and white meant purity. Words and wishes corresponding to the spirit of the holiday were scratched out on sweets. Since the 1850s, sweets have been sold in heart-shaped cardboard boxes.

The Japanese on Valentine's Day are testing for the loudest and most passionate message. Boys and girls climb onto the platform and shout their love confessions from there in turn. But the holiday among the Japanese is slightly reminiscent of our February 23, as gifts are received mainly by men. Women, however, take revenge in a month: on March 14, the Japanese give white chocolate to their loved ones, and this day is called “white”.

In Jamaica, for several years now, perhaps the most violent festivities have been held. Naked weddings are even held there, that is, couples stand in front of the altar in what their mother gave birth.

Valentine's Day is not encouraged in Muslim countries. So, in Saudi Arabia, this holiday is completely prohibited, and under pain of heavy fines. The Saudi Commission for the Inculcation of Virtue and the Prevention of Sin has ruled that Valentine's Day should be banned because the pernicious Western traditions confuse the minds of the younger generation and cultivate sin. Even shops are not allowed to sell bears, hearts and red roses on this day.

For all other nations, customs are somewhat different, but in general they are similar: this day is filled with sweets, flowers and heart-shaped cards. In addition, in many countries it was very popular to arrange weddings and get married on Valentine's Day.

Peasants conjured mice on Tryphon, asking them not to spoil stacks of bread (Photo: Sebastian Duda, Shutterstock)

Date according to the old style: February 1

Saint Tryphon, whom the church honors on this day, lived in the 3rd century in Nicaea. From an early age, he adopted Christian customs, and as a youth, he showed the gift of miracles, healing the sick. According to legend, Tryphon cast out a demon from the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian III, who, although he was an idolater, did not persecute Christians. However, during the reign of the next emperor, Decius Trajan, persecution began and Tryphon was executed.

The peasants conjured mice on Tryphon, asking them not to spoil the stacks of bread. It was also believed that by certain rituals, rodents could be completely expelled from the village. To do this, the healer took a tuft of hay out of the haystack, took it to the oven and kindled it with a red-hot poker. He poured the resulting ashes into the places where hay and straw were stored.

At this time, the sorcerer was saying, referring to the mice: “Don’t eat white wheat, don’t drag you golden barley, don’t gnaw on full-bodied rye, don’t taste fragrant hay for you”. At the same time, he was accompanied by the owner and hostess, carrying bread and salt on a clean towel. Due to the custom of expelling mice, this day was also called "Tryphon with a cat." By the way, on this day it was customary to appease cats, treat them with milk and ask for help in the fight against mice.

Also on the day of Tryphon, unmarried girls prayed for suitors. February was traditionally the month of weddings, and this time was considered the best time to ask the higher powers for family happiness.

On this day, they looked at the sky: if the stars were visible, it meant late spring. Snow that day foreshadowed spring rains, and fog - the onset of good weather. They also said: what is Tryphon - such are the remaining days of February.

Name day on this day

Vasily, Gabriel, David, Nikolai, Peter, Semyon, Timothy, Tryphon

Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day)

Officially, Valentine's Day has been around for over 16 centuries (Photo: Garry L., Shutterstock)

February 14 is celebrated in many countries around the world. Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day.

It is believed that Valentine's Day has existed for more than 16 centuries, but the holidays of Love are known from even earlier times - from the time of ancient pagan cultures. For example, the Romans in mid-February celebrated a festival of eroticism called Lupercalia, in honor of the goddess of love, Juno Februata.

The holiday also has a specific "culprit" - the Christian priest Valentine. This story dates back to about 269, at that time Emperor Claudius II ruled the Roman Empire. The warring Roman army experienced an acute shortage of soldiers for military campaigns, and the commander was convinced that the main enemy of his "Napoleonic" plans was marriage, because a married legionnaire thinks much less about the glory of the empire than about how to feed his family. And, in order to preserve the military spirit in his soldiers, the emperor issued a decree forbidding the legionnaires to marry.

But the soldiers did not become less in love with this. And to their happiness, there was a man who, not fearing the imperial wrath, began to secretly marry the legionnaires with their lovers. It was a priest named Valentine from the Roman city of Terni (Valentine of Terni). Apparently, he was a real romantic, since his favorite pastimes were reconciling those who quarreled, helping to write love letters and giving flowers to the subjects of their passion at the request of the legionnaires.

Of course, as soon as the emperor found out about this, he decided to stop his "criminal activities". Valentine was sentenced to death. The tragedy of the situation was also in the fact that Valentine himself was in love with the jailer's daughter. The day before the execution, the priest wrote a farewell letter to the girl, where he spoke about his love, and signed it “Your Valentine”. It was read after he was executed.

Subsequently, as a Christian martyr who suffered for his faith, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius (Pope Gelasius I) declared February 14 Valentine's Day.

Since 1969, as a result of the reform of worship, Saint Valentine was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church (along with other Roman saints, information about whose life is contradictory and unreliable). However, even before 1969, the church did not approve and did not support the traditions of celebrating this day.

Whether it was so or otherwise, but, apparently, it was from there that it was customary to write love notes on Valentine's Day - “valentines”. And on this holiday they like to arrange weddings and get married. It is believed that this will be the key to eternal love.

In Western Europe, Valentine's Day has been widely celebrated since the 13th century, in the USA - since 1777.

The tradition of giving gifts on this day has grown stronger every year and for some has become a fairly successful business. For example, at the beginning of the last century, it was customary for Americans to send marzipans to their brides, which were quite expensive.

In Japan The tradition of giving sweets on this day appeared at the suggestion of one large chocolate manufacturing company. They began celebrating Valentine's Day in the 1930s, and chocolate remains the most common gift to this day. By the way, Valentine's Day there is a bit like "March 8 for men", as Japanese men receive, perhaps, even more gifts than women: men's accessories such as a razor, lotion, wallet, and so on.

Passionate French on Valentine's Day, it is customary to give jewelry, and in a romantic Denmark people send dried white flowers to each other.

In Britain unmarried girls on February 14 get up before sunrise, stand near the window and look at the passing men. According to legend, the first man they see is the betrothed.

But there are some countries in the world that have especially distinguished themselves in celebrating Valentine's Day. First of all, this Saudi Arabia, which is the only country in the world where this holiday ... is officially banned, moreover, under pain of heavy fines.

And in Rus' there was a holiday of lovers, only it was celebrated not in winter, but at the beginning of summer. It was associated with the legendary love story of Peter and Fevronia, today in our country this day is the official holiday of the All-Russian Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.

And today, on this day, it is customary to give books to everyone ... (Photo: depositphotos.com)

February 14, of course, is known primarily as Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day. However, a growing number of people who know about another holiday celebrated on this day. Every year since 2012, February 14 is celebrated International Book Giving Day(International Book Giving Day).

There are holidays born thanks to the attention of the UN or other public organizations to the problems of an international character, there are public holidays, religious, professional and others. One way or another, each of them has its own history of occurrence.

Book Giving Day is a holiday that has become international not only because of its global nature, but also because its roots came from the people, that is, the initiative for its appearance belongs to one ordinary person - American Emmy Broadmoore - founder of a children's book website in the USA.

Emmy Broadmoor is also a mother of three. It was the question of one of the sons who once asked his mother why there is no such day in the year when people give books to each other just like that, and became the impetus for the birth of a new significant holiday. Initially addressing her fellow bloggers, social media users, colleagues and site partners through her communication channels, Emmy initiated the annual Book Giving Day on February 14 in 2012.

The issue of a small child, the initiative and active position of his mother were picked up by millions of people around the world, which contributed to the establishment of this holiday as an International Day.

And today, on this day, it is customary to give books, first of all, to children, as well as to those whose opportunities to access reading books for one reason or another are limited. However, not only children love to read. Fortunately, there are still a lot of adults who understand and appreciate the book as an object of not only material, but, first of all, spiritual value, they appreciate the feelings and emotions that the author gives the reader. Children, in turn, learn kindness, friendship, mutual assistance, love for their neighbor, a sense of empathy and much that helps a child become a person.

To date, the ideological inspirers of the promotion and popularization of the book and the holiday have achieved their goal: the book is still loved, and the holiday has an international character. In Russia, in addition to ordinary citizens, many libraries in all corners of our country joined the celebration of the International Book Giving Day. The growing popularity of the holiday contributes to the fact that book retail chains, websites selling book products, as well as charitable organizations may join in its holding.

Organizers and activists ask all concerned people to treat the book with care, not to forget that, unfortunately, even today in the world not every person has the opportunity to freely get acquainted with the book. Someone - because of insufficient material support, and someone - because of a difficult life situation, social reasons. There are orphanages, orphanages, boarding schools, hospitals where children left by their parents are. To bring there books that have been read or are not in demand due to children growing up in the family, to give these books, seeing joy in the eyes of a child and remembering that not only gadgets can cause such a genuine feeling - a good deed!

geek day

February 14th is Geek Day (Photo: Pressmaster, Shutterstock)

February 14 - unofficial but widely celebrated in the professional world geek day. On February 14, 1946, the first real working electronic computer ENIAC I (Electrical Numerical Integrator And Calculator) was demonstrated to the scientific world and all those interested.

Interestingly, the work on the development of the first computer was sponsored by the American army, which needed a computer for military calculations, planning and programming. ENIAC I worked until 23:45 on October 2, 1955, and then was dismantled.

Of course, there were earlier computers, but these are all prototypes and experimental versions. For that matter, Babbage's Analytical Engine was the first computer in general... But ENIAC was the first computer that actually worked on practical problems. By the way, it was from ENIAC that modern computers inherited the binary number system.

ENIAC was developed to solve one of the serious and necessary tasks of the time: to calculate the army's ballistic tables. The army had departments involved in the calculation of ballistic tables for the needs of artillery and aviation. People worked in these departments in the position of the Army Calculator.

Naturally, the power and performance of these "computing resources" of the army was not enough. That is why cyberneticians at the beginning of 1943 began to develop the concept of a new computing device - the ENIAC computer.

That is why February 14 is celebrated as a holiday - the Day of the Computer Engineer. And in Russia there is also an official professional holiday for workers in this industry - Programmer's Day.

disting

Heralds the awakening of the vital forces that fell asleep during the Winter Night (Photo: jarowan power, Shutterstock)

February 14 is one of the main pagan holidays - disting. This is a holiday of late frosts, dedicated to the victory of the light of the Sun over the dark days of winter. It heralds the awakening of the vital forces that fell asleep during the Winter Night.

It is believed that the earth at this time is preparing to receive new seeds. This period is also called a symbolic time of preparation for future events.

The origin of this holiday took place in ancient Sweden, where for many years it was very popular. There, the celebration of Disting (in the more familiar Scandinavian version - "Ting dis") was held in the form of a fair in early February.

There is also a version that the origin of the holiday is more connected not with the Winter Nights, but with another holiday, referred to as Disablot. The differences here are regional: Winter Nights was celebrated in the northwest of Scandinavia (in Norway and Iceland), while Disablot was celebrated in the east (in Sweden). A kind of social event was held here - general fairs, which were apparently the first large gatherings of the year.

Also on this day, family celebrations are traditionally held with the exchange of gifts. Disting Day is considered an appropriate time for wedding vows and weddings.

Instruction

According to legend, in the 3rd century AD. In the small Roman town of Terni, there lived a young priest named Valentine. He was not only a clergyman, but also a skilled doctor who willingly helped people. Roman legionnaires had special respect for Valentine, because Valentine not only healed them from wounds, but also connected them with their lovers by marriage.

The fact is that the emperor Claudius, who ruled at that time, issued a decree forbidding soldiers to marry. He had huge plans for waging wars of conquest, and therefore the emperor believed that warriors should not be distracted by their families.

Contrary to the imperial decree, Valentine not only married couples in love, but also tried to reconcile those who quarreled, wrote love letters and handed flowers to girls on behalf of their lovers. When rumors of this reached the emperor, he ordered the arrest and execution of the recalcitrant priest.

While in prison, Valentine fell in love with the jailer's blind daughter. On the eve of the execution, he wrote a touching letter to the girl with a confession. A flower of then very rare saffron was wrapped in it. According to legend, having received a letter, the girl received her sight and was able to read the message from her beloved.

The executed Valentine was buried in one of the Roman churches. After that, the gates of the temple began to be called the "gates of Valentine." It is said that every spring an almond tree blooms on the grave, and its pink flowers spread a unique aroma. Couples in love come to him and give each other an oath of love and fidelity.

In 496, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church, and the day of his execution - February 14 - became the feast of lovers. In Western Europe, Valentine's Day has been celebrated since the 4th century, in 1777 it began to be celebrated in the United States. Valentine's Day came to Russia only in the 90s of the 20th century and has been very popular since then, although many consider it an alien holiday.

The origin of valentines is associated with the name of the Duke of Orleans, who in 1415, while in prison, wrote letters to his wife full of love. Since the 18th century, such messages have gained wide popularity. The lovers began to exchange messages in the form of hearts. The symbols of the holiday are roses, images and figurines of cupids or kissing doves.

In addition to Valentine's Day, February 14 is also celebrated on other, not so romantic holidays. Computer scientists consider this day their professional holiday. Jews in the leap year celebrate Purim katan. Bulgarians celebrate the day of viticulturists - Trifon Zarezan. The Catholic Church honors the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius. And in Venice and Nice are traditional carnivals.

The holiday also has a specific "culprit" - the Christian priest Valentine. This story dates back to about 269, at that time Emperor Claudius II ruled the Roman Empire. The warring Roman army experienced an acute shortage of soldiers for military campaigns, and the commander was convinced that marriage was the main enemy of his "Napoleonic" plans, because a married legionnaire thinks much less about the glory of the empire than about how to feed his family. And, in order to preserve the military spirit in his soldiers, the emperor issued a decree forbidding the legionnaires to marry.

Subsequently, as a Christian martyr who suffered for his faith, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius (Pope Gelasius I) declared February 14 Valentine's Day.

In Western Europe, Valentine's Day has been widely celebrated since the 13th century, in the USA - since 1777.

Passionate French on Valentine's Day, it is customary to give jewelry, and in a romantic Denmark people send dried white flowers to each other.

In Britain unmarried girls on February 14 get up before sunrise, stand near the window and look at the passing men. According to legend, the first man they see is the betrothed.

And in Rus' there was a holiday of lovers, only it was celebrated not in winter, but at the beginning of summer. It was associated with the legendary love story of Peter and Fevronia and is dedicated to Kupala, the pagan Slavic god, the son of Perun.

Do you know that...

Cooing doves and hearts pierced by Cupid's arrow became symbols of Valentine's Day.
On this day, girls and boys gathered together, wrote names on pieces of paper and threw these leaves into a jug, then each pulled out one piece of paper and recognized the name of their loved one. In some countries, there is still a custom to choose Valentines (of both sexes) on February 14 for the whole next year.
By February 14, a lot of valentine greeting cards are being released, from simple ones with touching images to folding ones. And in the old days there were even postcards decorated with gold and lace.
Italians consider it their duty to give sweets to their loved ones on this day. This day is called in Italy - sweet.
gallant French people were the first to introduce love messages - quatrains.
In Finland And in Estonia This day is called Friends Day. In addition to the fact that the holiday is celebrated by lovers, just friends (regardless of gender) give each other greeting cards. On the eve of this holiday, shops sell a variety of trinkets, gifts in the form of hearts.
In Japan hold a competition for the loudest love message. Boys and girls rise to the platform and take turns shouting with all their might - whatever they want - to their beloved. The winner receives a prize.
English send love messages to their animals, especially dogs and horses.
In America 108 million roses are sold these days, mostly red ones, and 692 million dollars are spent on candy these days!
Hearts for the holiday can be sewn, sculpted, painted, knitted and even baked. A variety of materials are used for making hearts: beads, shells, feathers, dry flowers, pieces of fabric, fur ...
A significant part of the "valentines" are anonymous and without a return address, written with the left hand or from right to left, which makes the message mysterious. But after the holiday, the work of private detectives is added: they receive a lot of orders to identify the senders of "valentines".