Be my Valentine on Valentine’s Day

The origins of Valentine’s Day

Today we explore the origins of Valentine’s Day going back to ancient Rome…

Love is the greatest refreshment in life. ­– Pablo Picasso

Valentine’s Day, Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on 14 February in many countries.

In The Dictionary of Christianity, JC Cooper writes that Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome who was imprisoned for marrying young Christian couples. The same events are found in Bede’s Martyrology, compiled in the 8th century. It states that Saint Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and attempted to convince him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. The Roman emperor ordered him to be executed. While in jail, he is reported to have healed Julia, the blind daughter of the jailer Asterius. There is an embellishment to this legend which tells of the evening before the execution, Valentine wrote a card, addressed to the daughter, signing it “Your Valentine”.

Valentine’s Day was first associated with romantic love during the time of Chaucer, when the tradition of courtly love blossomed. In England during the 18th century, it became a celebration in which lovers expressed their love by presenting gifts, often flowers, confectionery and greeting cards.

Modern day Valentine habits have evolved to include all manner of gifts, with the retail stores jumping on the band wagon by slapping on a bit of red ribbon and labelling anything and everything ‘Valentine’.

If you’re looking to surprise your loved one with something a little more special, pop across to Scarab and chat to the team. Janine and her flock of Cupids are on hand to create a unique, bespoke piece that will charm your Valentine. If you’ve got a personal message, they can engrave the item. Perhaps you need a bit of inspiration – visit Scarab’s online shop on the website. You will find pieces to match every budget. And if you want to go for something red, options include garnets, tourmalines and rose quartz. If your significant other happens to celebrate their birthday during February, you may want to consider an amethyst, as it’s their birthstone. The amethyst is the stone of Saint Valentine, who is said to have worn an amethyst ring engraved with an image of Cupid. And folklore dictates that during the Middle Ages, if an amethyst was presented by a lady to her knight, or a bride to her husband, in the shape of a heart set in silver, eternal happiness would be bestowed on the couple.

Remember that you don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to remind someone that they have a special place in your heart; a gift is valued only when it gives pleasure to the person it is meant for.