History Herald: Holiday Series~ Ancient Origins & Traditions of Valentines Day

History Heralds: The History of Valentines Day - True Story and Origins

Extra! Extra! Learn All About It!  In this one time course, students will explore the history of Valentines Day, learning its ancients origins and its progression to become one of the biggest love-filled holidays around the world. 

Did you know that the original Valentine was executed for marrying people in secret against the Roman Emperor's wishes?
Did you know that in Rome they celebrated a day from Feb. 13 to 15 called the feast of Lupercalia where they would slaughter animals and have a "matchmaking" lottery?
Did you know that the Normans celebrated Galatin's Day which translates into our Modern Valentine's Day?
Did you know that the Catholic Church adopted that day to try to remove pagan holidays from Christian Europe?
Did you know that it was famous writers like Shakespeare and Chaucer that romanticized this holiday?
Did you know that know every year billons of dollars are spent on this day?

In this class, we will go explore all the way back to ancient Rome to find out how this day came to be and the symbols that are connected to it- Cupid and his arrows, giving of Valentine's cards, candy, flowers, and more! Through class discussion, presentation, and collaborative interaction, students will trace the historical background of the holiday. All of the above questions will be addressed, and students will leave class with a thorough understanding of the historical events and traditions of the modern Valentine's day.

Events and periods that will be covered:
- Ancient Rome
- Normans
- Medieval Europe/Catholic Church


This is a non-religious class. Its objective is to trace the historical past of the current holiday celebrated around the world and highlight historical trends and themes. This class will help your child trace the historical origins of the holiday and traditions and connect them to present traditions celebrated around the world. Students will hone their historical analysis capabilities through discussion and lecture. 

 Class will be interactive with lots of discussion and group collaboration, an activity, and a presentation. This is a beginner class, so no prior knowledge is needed. 


Come join us for a journey back in time as we learn about the true history of Valentine's Day and how it became a love filled holiday with chocolate, cards, and stuffed bears!