Don’t Forget Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day arrives each February 14 wrapped in red hearts, chocolate, roses, and greeting cards. But beneath the commercial sparkle lies a story that stretches back nearly two millennia—a blend of ancient fertility rites, Christian martyrdom, and medieval notions of courtly love.

The roots reach to ancient Rome and the festival of Lupercalia, held mid-February. This wild celebration honored Faunus, god of agriculture, and welcomed spring with feasting, purification rituals, and matchmaking. As Christianity spread, the Church worked to replace pagan customs with Christian observances. In the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I designated February 14 as the feast day of Saint Valentine, neatly overlaying a Christian martyr onto the old midwinter festivities.

Who was Saint Valentine? History is hazy—there may have been two or three martyrs by that name in the 3rd century—but the most enduring legend centers on a Roman priest who defied Emperor Claudius II. The emperor had outlawed marriage for young men, convinced that single soldiers made better warriors. Valentine continued to perform secret weddings, was arrested, and—according to tradition—fell in love with his jailer’s daughter while imprisoned. He reportedly healed her blindness and, before his execution around A.D. 270, sent her a farewell note signed “Your Valentine.” Another version describes him cutting parchment hearts to remind persecuted Christians of God’s love.

By the Middle Ages, February 14 had become a day of romance. Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1375 poem Parliament of Fowls first explicitly tied the date to lovers, describing birds choosing mates on “seynt Volantynys day.” In 18th-century England the custom of exchanging handwritten love notes, flowers, and sweets took hold. Today it’s a global industry—billions spent on gifts—yet it still carries echoes of devotion, courage, and quiet affection.

For seniors, Valentine’s Day invites reflection on love in its many seasons: the fiery passion of youth, the steady companionship of decades, the tender memories that remain after loss.

Gentlemen, if you’re reading this over coffee and suddenly feel a small knot of panic—relax, but don’t procrastinate. Your wife hasn’t forgotten the date. The same holiday that began with a saint secretly marrying young soldiers now means you can’t get away with a mumbled “Happy Valentine’s” and a pat on the back. A card that actually says something personal, a favorite meal, or even a short handwritten note will go further than you think. Small gestures still speak loudest.

For those who have lost a spouse, the day can feel different—brighter storefronts and happy couples can sharpen the sense of absence. The hearts and roses everywhere remind us of what once filled our own homes.

Yet the story of Saint Valentine is, at its core, about love that endures sacrifice. He gave his life for compassion and conviction. That same spirit reminds us that real love is not erased by time or separation. It lives on in the way a certain song still catches your breath, in the warmth of a faded photograph, in stories you tell your grandchildren about “the way your mother laughed.”

If this Valentine’s Day finds you alone, consider making it a gentle day of remembrance rather than sorrow. Light a candle, page through old letters or albums, share a favorite memory over coffee with family or a friend. Place a single rose at their resting place, or simply sit quietly and let gratitude settle in—for the years shared, the laughter, the small daily kindnesses that built a life together.

Love does not vanish with goodbye; it changes shape. It becomes the quiet strength that carries us forward, the certainty that what was true remains true.

So whether you celebrate with a laugh, a gentle nudge to do something thoughtful, or a tender hour of memory, Valentine’s Day asks us all to honor connection—past, present, and eternal.

Thanks for reading All About Seniors. See you next week!

Bill Milby is a Director of Visiting Angels® of Central Georgia, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. Questions or comments? Reach me at william.mercylink@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsofCentralGA