How did Valentine's Day come about?
If we look back in time, we can discover that it is only recently that we have been forced to face these Hamletic doubts. Valentine's Day has very ancient origins, but for a long time it had nothing to do with the exchange of gifts. A very important moment for this feast falls in the 5th century AD. At this time, in fact, the old pagan cult of Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility, was replaced with the cult of the Christian saint Valentine. According to reconstructions, Valentine was an Umbrian martyr bishop, beheaded in Rome because he was guilty of celebrating 'clandestine marriages', even between Christians and pagans. For this very reason, he was recognised as the patron saint of lovers. It seems then that it was Geoffrey Chaucer, in the 14th century, who reinforced the more romantic side of the festivity. It is only since the 19th century that this holiday has taken on more 'commercial' connotations, during which flowers and chocolates take centre stage.






