The Darkness behind Valentine’s Day

By Aryana St. Marthe
 
Valentine’s Day is typically seen as a loving and romantic holiday. However, it has a dark history that you may not know about.
 
We all know that Valentine’s Day is the day everyone shows their love towards each other, but what about in Rome during the 3rd century? Arnie Seipel posted that no one actually knows where The Feast of Lupercalia (the original name for Valentine’s Day) originated but in Rome they celebrated it in an unusual way. According to Noel Lenski, historian at University of Colorado at Boulder, “the men would sacrifice a dog and a goat then whip the woman with the backs of the slain animal.” 
 
The history behind this holiday is very much shocking because it's considered a loving, romantic holiday not something that has abusive husbands and animals are getting sacrificed. This holiday grew more romanticized over the years because of Shakespeare and Chaucer. They put it to work and it helped them become more popular in Britain and the rest of Europe. Eventually, it became a tradition and handmade paper cards were a way of showing your love towards someone. It made its way around the world and people started doing it everywhere. 
 
Throughout the years people have started to celebrate Valentine's Day in their own way. Some buy their loved ones jewelry and others buy them flowers and chocolates. Some people celebrate it in a SAD (Single Awareness Day) way, by buying themselves chocolates and flowers. Unfortunately, some people even spend their time the way the Romans did. 
 
To read more about the dark background of Valentine’s Day here is the link to the website:  https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day
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