Who Was Saint Valentine? The Man Behind Valentine’s Day

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According to tradition, Saint Valentine was a Christian priest in third-century Rome who continued performing marriages even after Emperor Claudius II reportedly banned them for soldiers. The belief was that unmarried men made better fighters. Valentine’s decision to officiate secret weddings linked his name forever with love, commitment, and loyalty.

Valentine was eventually arrested and executed, traditionally believed to have been martyred on February 14. Over time, this date became associated with romantic devotion. By the Middle Ages, especially in Europe, the day had evolved into a celebration of courtly love, shaping what we now call Valentine’s Day.

Though celebrated for love, Saint Valentine is also invoked by beekeepers, people living with epilepsy, those suffering from plague, and travellers. Patron saints were often assigned based on legends, miracles, or symbolic associations, which explains his surprisingly wide range of connections.

The link to beekeepers is sometimes explained symbolically. Bees have long represented industriousness, community, and sweetness. Honey, in medieval symbolism, was connected to affection and healing, reinforcing Valentine’s association with care and devotion.

Saint Valentine is also considered a patron for people with epilepsy and those affected by illness. In earlier centuries, epilepsy was poorly understood and often attributed to spiritual causes. Saints were invoked for protection, healing, and comfort in times when medical knowledge was limited.

Historical records about Valentine are sparse, and some scholars believe there may have been more than one early Christian martyr named Valentine. Over centuries, legend and devotion intertwined, transforming a possibly obscure martyr into one of the most globally recognised saints.