Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian feast dayhonoring one or two early saints named Valentinus. Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.
There are numerous stories associated with various Valentines connected to February 14, including a written account of Saint Valentine of Rome’s imprisonment for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his judge and he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution.
The Feast of Saint Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honour of the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on that date in AD 269.
Valentine’s Day customs developed in early modern England and spread throughout the English-speaking world in the 19th century. In the later 20th and early 21st centuries, these customs spread to other countries.
In Japan, on that special day, it is a tradition to give sweets and especially chocolates to the beloved, in France, jewelry, and in Denmark they send white dried flowers. Whilst, the unmarried girls in the UK wake up early in the morning to stand at the window and watch the men passing through. According to the legend, the first passing man becomes the man of her life.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where this holiday is officially banned.
There was also a holiday of love in ancient Russia, but it was not celebrated in the winter, but in the early summer and connected with the legendary history of Pyotr and Fevronia.
St. Valentine’s day in Armenia coincides with the feast of Tiarn-daraj, which is one of the most beloved Armenian holiday. Apostolic Church of all Armenians celebrate “Tyarnyndaraj” (Candlemas Day) or also known among people as “Terndez”, which means “The Lord is with you”.
The celebrations of the holiday begin on 13th of February in the evening as per the church calendar the new day starts after the evening divine service when the fields and gardens are blessed. Accordingly, a festive bonfire is made in every churchyard for the newly married couples of the very year to jump over it. Then they take a candle light from
the church and by that light make bonfires in their own yard as during the consecration of Christ to the temple people came to meet him with lamps and torches.
The other day on 14th of February after the Family members dance
around the fire 3 or 7 times and jump over it. These numbers are believed to be symbols of fertility, and the fire represents light and purity.
Meanwhile the lovers all over the world celebrate the day of St. Valentine on February 14, in Armenia people in love have the holiday devoted to their patron, general St. Sargis.
This holiday is also announced as the day of the youth blessing. It is celebrated 63 days before the Easter, on a Saturday between the January 18 and February 23.
This year we celebrate the holiday on the 16th of February.
