Summary
Candy and roses and cards, oh my! Valentine’s Day may be all about love now, but its origins are quite different. The holiday is named for Valentine, a Christian priest in third century Rome. He was martyred on February 14, then declared a saint. The Church declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day, the same day as a Roman festival called Lupercalia. About a thousand years later, British poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem about the pairing off of birds on Valentine’s Day, giving the holiday its connection to romance. Exchanging cards eventually grew popular, first the homemade kind, then factory-made, with the rise of the Industrial Revolution. Then, England’s Uniform Penny Post made them cheap and easy to mail—and Valentine's Day cards were everywhere! Traditions vary around the world, but in the U.S., celebrants often exchange chocolate and flowers. It’s nice to show appreciation for loved ones, if you’re into celebrating, but if it’s not your thing, that’s okay, too! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Valentine’s Day:
- What is one new thing you learned about valentine’s day?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining valentine’s day.
- Draw or give one example of your own.