Have you ever been amazed how Valentine’s Day became a universal event or how it was named Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is so popular and significant that people in every country with various religions and beliefs show their love to their beloveds on this day. Also, most people are searching for various presents and surprises to indicate their attention in the most appropriate possible way. It will always remain in the mind of that person.
Certainly, like us, you are interested to realize the reason for the approval of this day. So in this article from the Shahrekado website, we concluded to share everything we recognize about Valentine’s Day with you. Stay with us to the end of this article to get the answers to your questions. In addition, we will familiarize you with the traditions of Valentine’s Day in other countries. At last, you can visit the different presents on the Sharekado website that are appropriate for Valentine’s Day and register your order in our online shop.
What is Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is also recognized as lover’s Day and Love Day. This day comes from the culture and traditions of Christians and modern Western communities. This event is held each year on February 14th. In fact, the major reason for its commemoration returns back to Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day has long been recognized as a holiday in honor of Saint Valentine in the Catholic Church. On this day, they showed their love for each other by sending a Valentine card with a bunch of flowers or different presents.
However, Valentine’s Day is not limited to these two or three lines and has a long narrative that we will talk about in the following. Over the past years, some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan, have prohibited people from commemorating Valentine’s Day because of their religion and beliefs!
History of Valentine’s Day
Generally, Valentine’s Day was celebrated to honor a priest with the same name who was murdered in 270 AD. A group of Western communities believes that a priest was murdered that day. It is called Valentine day because of the anniversary of the priest’s death. Others Think that the Catholic Church nominated this date Valentine’s Day in order to expand Christianity and prohibit the pagan custom of Lupercalia, which was known in Rome. In the middle century of Europe, countries such as England and France contemplated Valentine as one of the most famous priests and respect him highly. His oldest monument is a letter he wrote to his lover in the Tower of London prison and is now kept in the British Library.
commemorating Valentine in various countries
Of course, commemorating Valentine’s Day, like other events, is different in various countries. Now, these variations may be in the date of holding or how it is held. Actually, the primary meaning does not modify; Because all the nations that honor Valentine’s Day recognize this day as the day of love. They made some changes only in specific cases according to their traditions. Right now, We will accustom to these differences in the following. So we will call several countries and analyze them in a more detailed way.
1) Iran
It is better to put Iran as the first country and discuss our homeland. From 1389, this day was officially known more in Iran than before, about a week before February 14, on the 26th or 25th of Bahman, all the windows of stores and florists turned red. Instead of this day, some Iranians contemplate the commemoration of Esfandgan according to the Iranian ceremony of love day.
Esfandegan is commemorated about a week later than Valentine’s Day and on the 5th of Esfand. This commemoration comes from the Zoroastrian era, when Esfandyar Ekhtiyari, one of the spokesmen of that time, named the 5th of Esfand the day of true love in the Iranian culture! Also, by clicking on the name “Iran” in the same part, you will enter the Valentine presents part of Shahrekado.
2) India
In India, Valentine’s Day has been greatly criticized by elites and government officials for some activities, resulting in limitations on the commemoration. As a consequence, it can not be said that Valentine’s Day in India, is wholehearted and famous among the people like in other countries are.
3) Turkey
Florists in Turkey are always arranging attractive flowers for sale a week before February 14th. The city of Izmir is one of the most significant flower production centers in Turkey. People purchase about 20% of the flowers from Izmir on this day.
4) China
Some Chinese people believe that Valentine’s Day has a great effect on other societies. In this country, a day named “Night of the Sevens” is called the day of love, which is similar to Valentine’s Day. The name of this day returns back to a popular Chinese myth in which a cowboy and a knitter girl meet on the seventh day of the seventh Lunar month in the sky. The last date of this commemoration returns back to 2006.
5) Azerbaijan
Love Day in Azerbaijan is placed at a totally different time and day than Valentine’s Day. They contemplate the 31st of Shahrivar as the day of love. The reason behind this is that the sun and the moon are at a 180-degree angle to each other. The people of Azerbaijan believe that this occasion will cause everlasting love and affection.
6) Japan
In Japan, unlike other countries, they do not title a day other than Valentine’s Day to show their love. The only variation between Japan and the rest of the world is the way people give presents to each other. According to the compelling traditions of this country, women should purchase chocolate for men on this day. An strange point is that even women who are employed should give chocolates to all their male employees and to their boss. Instead, there is another day on March 14th named “White Day” when men are asked to give presents to women. This present is usually a white dress that coincides with the name of the event. This approach and tradition of the Japanese are very attractive.
7) England
The traditions of Valentine’s Day in England are the same as its major traditions. Also, since this country is contemplated a part of Western communities, there is no clear difference in the way this commemoration is held. The only appealing thing in the UK is the surprise they provide for the kids. Actually, a person called “Jack” welcomes children on this day with a present that often frightens children when he gives presents with doing tricks.
Popular narratives about Valentine’s Day
We all see that historical narratives change. Valentine’s Day is ancient. There are many myths about it. The Catholic Church according to research now finds that three saints called Valentine or Valentine lived in that era, and all three were murdered, and the rest of the myth is told differently. Keep in mind that Valentine was the name of a person in that era!
According to a very popular narrative in the third century AD, during the reign of Claudius II, a priest lived, his name was Valentine. Claudius believed that unmarried men were much stronger fighters and soldiers than married men. As a result, he prohibited young men from marriage. Valentine strongly disagreed with this opinion and contemplated it as unfair; Therefore, during some movements, he contracted Roman soldiers with their beloved girl. Claudius has informed his movements and he was sentenced to death.
The probability of another narrative being real is very low compared to another narrative. The narrative was that Valentine was annoyed by the Romans for fleeing Christians. In the end, this person was murdered.
In the third myth, a priest who is in prison falls in love with the jailer’s daughter. The priest sent him the first Valentine card before his death, in which he wrote, “On behalf of your Valentine.”
Valentine’s Day Symbols
Every event has popular symbols. For instance, on Yalda night, items filled with pomegranate and watermelon shapes are accessible in shop windows. Valentine’s Day also has pretty signs that you will remember this day when you see it. These signs may seem very recognizable to you, but we intend to describe them in more detail. These Valentine’s Day signs are:
1) Heart
Since the heart is contemplated to be the center of bursting emotions, they devoted the shape of the heart to the sign of Valentine’s Day. The broken heart you see on present boxes or present boxes indicates the vulnerability of love and enmity between men and women.
2) CUPID or the shape of a winged baby
This symbol is in the shape of an interesting child holding a bow and arrow. The appealing point is that the end of the arrow in the child’s hand is in the form of a heart. If this arrow hits someone, he instantly falls in love. In ancient Roman narratives, Cupid, the son of Venus, was the goddess of love and beauty. Cupid literally means wish and is sometimes recognized as AMOR. Cupid’s counterpart in Greek narratives is named EROS.
3) Veil
In the past and in Western communities, it was conventional for a woman to lose a handkerchief. So, if a man noticed it falling and picked it up instantly and gave it to her, show his regard to her. These handkerchiefs were made of net, which became a sign of the day because of the same narrative.
4) Red ribbon
The red symbol has a narrative about the past. At a time when most countries were at war, warriors wore ribbons or scarves in memory of their adored mistress and girls.
Conclusion
According to ancient traditions, the people of each country give each other about one billion Valentine cards annually. It is funny to understand that 85% of this amount is purchased by women. In the past, it was common for everyone to make their own cards for presents; But from 1800 these cards were sold in shops with different shapes. Also, based on statistics people are given each other, 50 million roses and millions of packets of chocolate annually. The amusing point to consider is that, unlike cards, most men buy these kinds of presents.
The best present for valentine’s day is the one that is related to the taste of your beloved. It will express your love and attention to that person. So now see the products of our online shop that are appropriate for Valentine’s day and register your order in our online shop according to the likes and dislikes of your favorite person.
Source: history
