The Real Meaning of Valentine’s Day

By Ejiofor Toochi

Edited by Ezennia Uche

“Valentine is coming, where’s your boyfriend?”

If you open social media right now, almost every post seems centred on Valentine’s Day and how couples plan to express their love. Romantic getaways, surprise gifts, candlelit dinners, the pressure is everywhere!

But have you ever stopped to ask: what exactly are we celebrating?

For decades, Valentine’s Day has been observed worldwide, largely focused on romantic partners, and sometimes extending to friendships and family relationships. Yet the origin of the day is far deeper than chocolates and roses.

Valentine’s Day, as it is known today, draws much of its meaning from the story of Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr whose life and death in the third century laid the foundation for the modern celebration.

Saint Valentine lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the third century Roman Empire. At the time, Christianity was still a persecuted religion, and believers were often imprisoned or executed for their faith. According to one enduring legend, Claudius believed that single men made stronger and more loyal soldiers than married ones. As a result, he enacted a decree prohibiting Roman soldiers from getting married, insisting their loyalty should belong fully to Rome.

Valentine defied this decree. As a priest, he secretly performed marriage ceremonies for couples who wished to be united despite the emperor’s order. His actions were eventually discovered, leading to his arrest and imprisonment.

While in prison, Valentine showed compassion not only to fellow inmates but also to the jailer’s blind daughter. Some accounts claim he miraculously restored her sight. Before his execution, he is said to have written her a note signed, “From your Valentine,” a phrase that has survived for centuries and remains closely associated with the holiday.

Valentine was executed on February 14, around the year 270. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s feast day. Over time, this religious observance gradually evolved into a celebration associated with romance and affection.

While modern Valentine’s Day often centres on gifts, flowers, and commercial celebration, its origin lies in the memory of a man who risked his life to honour love as sacred. This is what continues to shape the real meaning of Valentine’s Day across the world.