Valentine’s Day… As soon as you hear the name, red roses, heart-shaped chocolates and whispers of ‘I love you’ start echoing in your mind, but was February 14 always so innocent and romantic? If you peel away the layers of history, the picture tells a different story. Somewhere in ancient Rome, fiery rituals were being performed, while somewhere in Europe, public account of rejected love was being paid. From Italy’s Lupercalia to France’s tradition of ‘burning X’s photo’ – Valentine’s Day has been a journey not only of love but also of rejection and explosion of emotions.

Today, when trends like ‘Love Revenge’ are in discussion on social media, the question arises, is all this a modern version of the same shadow of history? Is Valentine’s Day just romance or is the bitter-sweet truth of relationships hidden in it? Come, let us know the stories hidden beneath the shiny surface of 14th February, which force us to look at love from a different perspective.

Valentines Day: Not just love, love and rejection are hidden in history

Today’s Valentine’s Day is associated with heart-shaped chocolates, candle-lit dinners and romantic movies, but did you know that this day has its roots in much more complex and controversial traditions? At times it was a fiery celebration of ancient Rome, at other times it became a public display of rejected feelings in love.

Italy’s Lupercalia: love or fiery tradition?

The roots of Valentine’s Day are often traced to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated in mid-February. It was a fertility festival, in which animal sacrifices were made and women were lightly beaten with animal skins. It was believed that this would improve fertility and health. Later, the Church ended this tradition and promoted stories to Saint Valentine and made February 14 a symbol of love.

France’s ‘Love Revenge’: When photos of exes were burnt

There was a ritual in medieval France, Drawing for Love, in which women who did not choose a partner would publicly burn the pictures of the men who had rejected them. This tradition became so rampant that later the government had to ban it. Today, discussions like Ex Burning Trend on social media give a glimpse of the same psychology. It was a symbol of love, rejection and emotional reaction.

Japan: Women give chocolate here

In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day. Giri-choco: Ceremonial chocolate, Hong-choco: Chocolate of true love. One month later, on March 14, men respond on White Day.

Philippines: one day, thousands of marriages

In the Philippines, this day has become more a symbol of marriage than romance. Mass weddings are organized by the government, where hundreds of couples get married together.

Germany: future husband from onion

In Germany, girls used to plant onions and write the names of boys on it; the onion plant that grew first was considered to be the future husband.

England: Salt egg and dream groom

Egg with salt in Britain and groom in dreams In England, women used to eat boiled egg filled with salt before Valentine’s Day, that too without drinking water. It was believed that this would show the face of the future husband in the dream.

Today’s Trend: ‘Love Revenge’ or Emotional Closure?

Today, many people on social media jokingly talk about deleting or burning ex’s photos. However, experts believe that this can be a way of emotional closure, but it should be kept within symbolic and safe limits. Ultimately the real message of Valentine’s Day is of love, respect and positive relationships.

A day of love, but layers of history deep.

Valentine’s Day is not just a festival of roses and gifts. Its roots lie in radical traditions, social change and complex stories of love. That is, Valentine’s Day, amidst love, denial and revenge, 14th February reminds us that love is as beautiful as it is sensitive.