Valentine's history and cultural expansion

Love is a complex yet regular emotion in human life. People define love in many ways. Theorists suggest many definitions of love after researching for many years. At the end of the day, love is a mysterious emotion. 

However, love is now related to Valentine's Day, which is celebrated worldwide unofficially as a symbol of celebrating love. The history of Valentine's Day is also a mystery, and there is still a question of why we celebrate Valentine's Day as a symbol of celebrating love. 

Following history, Valentine's Day was not always a day to be celebrated for love. On 14th February, Christian saints were prosecuted in the ancient Roman Empire. Holding the same name as Valentine, there were two Christian saints, and both of them were executed on 14th February, but years apart. 

One of them was Valentine of Rome, who was executed in 269 AD. He was under Roman persecution and was interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor wanted him to convert to Paganism, and he wanted the Emperor to convert to Christianity. As Saint Valentine didn't convert to Roman Paganism, he was executed. Before getting executed, he did a miracle, which was giving eyesight to the blind daughter, Julia, of his jailor, Asteruis. After this incident, the family and household of the jailer, Asterius, which consists of forty-six members, converted to Christianity. Valentine of Rome wrote a letter to Julia addressing himself 'Your Valentine' before getting executed.

Another saint named Valentine of Terni was also executed during Roman persecution in the year 273. He also made some miracles by healing the only son of a scholar from physical disabilities. Again, the family members of that scholar converted to Christianity. Following the incident, Roman Emperor Aurelian ordered Valentine of Terni to convert to Roman Paganism. But Saint Valentine didn't convert and got executed. 

The debate will always be there about the accuracy of the related incident of Valentine's Day. But the Catholic Encyclopedia says that these two incidents used to be celebrated as Saint Valentine's Day or Feast of Saint Valentine. It used to be celebrated as Christian Feast Day, remembering the saint martyrs who were executed for Christianity on this day.

Eventually, how the day was being celebrated cannot be called to be related to how the day is being celebrated today. In 1382, romantic love was connected to Valentine's Day by 'Parliament of Fowls,' written by Geoffrey Chaucer, an English author. It was a dream vision portraying a parliament for birds to choose their mates. It was presented as an honour at the first anniversary of the engagement of the fifteen-year-old King Richard II of England and fifteen-year-old Anne of Bohemia. 

In the 21st century, we celebrate Valentine's Day as a celebration of romantic love. However, love cannot be limited to one relationship. It is a multi-dynamic emotion. Love can be platonic, which makes humans social beings. People celebrate this day to express their love for romantic partners, friends, siblings, cousins, parents, family members and anyone they love in any way. Nowadays, it is a matter of interpretation in terms of the significance of this day. 

All over the world, Valentine's Day is the day to spread love. However, many countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Iran have banned the celebration of Valentine's Day due to religious beliefs and restrictions. In Iran, before 2011, the day used to be celebrated among young people. However, it was heavily criticised as spreading the Western culture. 

Many countries celebrate the day to shower love on different dates. It means that the celebration of Valentine's Day is not limited to the same date worldwide. In Israel, Valentine's Day is called Tu B'av and is celebrated on 15th August. In Japan, the day is associated with Christmas Eve and was first introduced by Mozoroff Ltd in 1936. Lebanese people are devotees of Saint Valentine, and the day is celebrated differently in cities. In Sidon, they prioritise family love over romantic love to celebrate this day. 

Singaporeans spend the most expenses on the occasion of Valentine's Day. In India, it seems to be a threat to some political beliefs and social traditions. Despite these difficulties, the day is celebrated by Indians. South Korea, China, and Taiwan celebrate this day joyfully and cheerfully. Flowers, greeting cards, and chocolates are exchanged by each other among people on this day. 

Love is an eternal emotion in human life, and this day helps people show and express that emotion in a festive way. In Bangladesh, the day was first introduced by Shafik Rehman, journalist and editor of Jaijaidin, in 1993. However, due to religious restrictions, celebrating this day is discouraged by many.

Eventually, humans will be social beings, and they cannot go beyond their social bonding and emotion, even if things are complicated and critical. Valentine's Day has some specific values that cannot be denied per historical incidents. But the day shouldn't be the reason to fuel any conflict. People with different perspectives can coexist by mutual peace and harmony centring around the day.

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