Valentine Day Around the World

The Philosophy of Valentine's Day

The most widely known legend about the origin of Valentine's Day centers on a Christian priest named Valentine. During the third century AD, the Roman Empire was still pagan and enforced strict measures against Christians. According to tradition, Emperor Claudius II forbade soldiers from marrying because he believed that unmarried men would make better warriors. Defying this decree, Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young couples until his activities were discovered, leading to his imprisonment. Legend further holds that while in prison, he developed a close bond with the jailer's daughter and wrote her letters signed "From your Valentine," a phrase that has become closely associated with the holiday. Valentine was eventually executed and later honored as a Christian martyr and a symbol of love and devotion. Several centuries later, after Christianity had become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, February 14 was designated as St. Valentine's Day in remembrance of him.

Valentine's Day in Iran

Ancient Iran had its own celebration associated with love, known as Sepandarmazgan. Celebrated in pre-Islamic times, this festival was traditionally observed on the fifth day of the month of Esfand in the ancient Iranian calendar. In today's calendar, it falls close to Valentine's Day, making it a cultural counterpart to the modern celebration.
The renowned Persian scholar Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, in The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries, records that this day was dedicated to honoring women and the earth. The festival's association with love is rooted in the ancient Iranian calendar, in which each day of the month had its own name. The fifth day was called Sepandarmaz, the name of the Zoroastrian guardian of the earth, representing sacred devotion, humility, and nurturing care. In ancient Iranian thought, the earth embodied these virtues by sustaining all living beings without discrimination, much like a loving mother caring for her children. For this reason, Sepandarmazgan has long been regarded as a symbol of love, respect, and devotion

Valentine Day in France

According to a popular tradition, medieval France was said to have had a curious custom known as the "Lottery of Love" (Loterie d'amour). In this account, unmarried men and women gathered in houses facing one another, called out to each other, and selected companions for friendship or marriage. It is also claimed that women who remained unchosen later burned effigies of the men who had rejected them and cursed them, leading the authorities to prohibit the practice. However, modern historians note that this story is poorly documented and lacks strong historical evidence, suggesting that it is more legend than established fact.
France is also closely associated with the history of Valentine's Day through Charles, Duke of Orléans, who wrote affectionate poems to his wife while imprisoned in England after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. These letters are considered among the earliest surviving Valentine's messages. Today, Valentine's Day is widely celebrated across France. Between February 12 and 14, florists, cafés, shops, and public spaces are often decorated with roses, hearts, and romantic displays, while couples exchange flowers, gifts, and messages of affection

Valentine Day in