Celebrating Valentine’s Day

This 600-year-old holiday is still celebrated every year.

Red+velvet%2C+heart+shaped+box+of+chocolates.++Shot+on+white+background.

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Red velvet, heart shaped box of chocolates. Shot on white background.

Valentine’s day originated from the celebration of two martyrs. Today, Valentine’s day is an extremely popular holiday representing love. In America alone, over 140 million cards are given out on Valentine’s Day! The day February 14th was chosen because it was believed to be the day mating season begins for birds in medieval times.

While these are our traditions now, back in the 15th century when the holiday was first celebrated, things were very different. The first time the holiday was celebrated was in Paris, France, in 1400. This makes this romantic day over 600 years old!

“Valentine’s day is one of my favorite holidays. I just love the vibe around it and giving out candy,” Mylie Stout (’26) said.

I would love for someone to get me a box of chocolates, and flowers too. That’s the only reason why I like Valentine’s day,” Dasia Lynn (’24) said.

Now we give boxes of chocolates and bouquets of roses, and a lot of them considering the fact that $1 billion worth of chocolates are purchased every year in the US alone, plus that there are 250 million roses grown for just Valentine’s day! However, years ago the traditions were less materialistic; handwritten love notes were given out.

“No matter what, it is the thought behind the gift that counts,” Stout (’26) said.