While Valentine’s Day is largely an American holiday and regarded by much of the world as holiday with more ties to commercialism than love, there are regional celebrations across the globe.

Valentine’s Day in Guatemala is called “Day of Love & Friendship” and people do acts of kindness for each other. In England, near Nolfolk , Jack Valentine leaves the children treats. In other parts of Europe, the customs are very similar to in the US, lovers enjoying romantic dinners and flowers or candies as the go to gift.

In Japan and Korea, women give male co-workers chocolate candies and then on another day in the spring, men give women non-chocolate candies.

So while there are echoes of a Valentine’s Day in almost every culture, February 14^th as Valentine’s is celebrated on the largest scale in the United States.

There are even events for the single folk to attend. Either single mixers or sometimes Un-Valentine’s Day parties like “Bitter Balls” or “I rather be alone than with MY EX extravaganzas.” These parties often feature fire pits to burn old pictures of ex-boyfriends and girlfriends. Others are more like a traditional singles party, a place to meet and greet and maybe find a Valentine for next year.

 

The Catholic Church recognized 11 St. Valentine’s feast days prior to Vatican II in 1969. The details of the martyrdom of the St. Valentine, whose day falls on the 14^th of February are disputed among scholars. But the majority feels that he was a priest who was martyred by Emperor Claudius for his refusal to convert to Roman paganism. His remains were thought to be buried at Via Flaminia. He is said to have performed a miracle, healing the blindness of the jailer’s daughter, prior to his death.

This story is sadly lacking in romantic lore and it appears over the ages, it was embellished or retold, to include more romantic elements. It is said that instead of Valentine’s refusal to convert leading to his death, it was instead his unsanctioned secret marriages of Emperor Claudius’s soldiers. The Emperor had forbidden soldiers from marrying thinking single men made better warriors. On the eve of Valentine’s execution, it is said he wrote a love note to his jailer’s daughter, with whom he had a secret friendship or some say love affair.

Chaucer is said to have made the greatest link between St. Valentine’s Day and Love. His love poems and stories of courtly love. Valentine’s also makes an appearance in Shakespeare, when mentioned by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-1601):

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,  All in the morning betime,  And I a maid at your window,  To be your Valentine.  Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,  And dupp'd the chamber-door;  Let in the maid, that out a maid  Never departed more.  (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5)

However it was not until the mid 1860s in the United States that Valentines really took shape and reassembled the holiday we celebrate today. With the arrival of inexpensive cards, gift items and candies, it was easy to shower a loved one with tokens of affections and sweets for one’s sweetheart.

Valentine’s Day is a favorite of American school children. It is a day to feast on candy hearts, red hots, gummy hearts, chocolate candies and cup cakes. There is red fruit punch and heart shaped cookies.

It also features fancy boxes or bags, lovingly wrapped in paper or foil and decorated. These boxes and bags are fun to make and very important for hauling home all their Valentines.

Many children love to pick out cards, featuring their favorite character or characters. Other children prefer to get out the craft paper or craft kits and make their own extra special cards. Older children can do most of these tasks on their own but younger children require more assistance with addressing the cards and building their boxes.

Most preschools and elementary schools have celebrations in the afternoon during the school day featuring fun games and a spread of yummy goodies. Older children, particularly middle school and high school, there are no formal parties during the school day, but rather a party, social or a dance on the closest weekend. Many school clubs hold flower sales or candy sales to raise money for their various events or causes during the week of Valentine’s Day.

Some schools have a winter formal or Sadie Hawkins dance in place of a Valentine’s Dance.

For younger children, all holidays are more fun when there is a bit of anticipation. Reading books about the holiday and traditions is a great way to help build that happy anticipation. Some great choices include:

• Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valetimes by Barbara Park
• The Story of Valentine’s by Nancy Skarmeas, Stacy Pickett-Venturi
• Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

Many local libraries and book stores will have all sorts of special Valentine’s Day activities and books on display to help the children get in the spirit.