Heart-shaped clasp

February is the month of love. On 14 February, we celebrate Valentine's Day and show our loved ones extra attention with flowers, gifts or cards. In 496, Pope Gelasius I declared 14 February as Saint Valentine's Day.

But why exactly 14 February and who is Saint Valentine? It could refer to two people, but it could also refer to one and the same person in Roman times. One may have been a priest under Emperor Claudius II and a soldier who married his girlfriend in secret. Soldiers were not allowed to marry. Other soldiers soon followed suit, and Valentine was arrested and interrogated by Claudius II. During this interrogation, Valentine tried to convert Claudius II, which was not appreciated. Valentine was executed on 14 February 270.

Another legend tells the story of a priest named Valentine who was in prison. It could just as well be the same priest, but this is not known. One of the guards had a blind daughter and asked him to heal her. Just before the priest was executed, on 14 February, he gave the girl a note. When Valentine was beheaded, the girl opened the note, which contained a yellow flower and was written: “From Valentinus”. After opening the note, the girl could see again. The guard is said to have converted to Christianity.

But there are other stories circulating. 14 February is also said to be the birthday of the Roman goddess Juno, queen of all gods and goddesses, but above all the patron saint of women and marriage. Every year on 15 February (the day after her birthday), a festival was held in honour of Juno and Pan (the god of nature). It was an important celebration for the Romans. The names of unmarried women were thrown into a large bowl and unmarried men were allowed to take turns picking a name. During the festival, people were paired up and became partners. Pope Gelasius banned this pagan festival in 496.

According to others, the origins of Valentine's Day can be found in the Middle Ages. In 1381, Valentine was mentioned for the first time in the Legenda Aurea. A poem states that 14 February is the first day on which birds begin to mate. This urge is also said to be felt by humans. The passage below is said to be from a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (known for his unfinished frame story, The Canterbury Tales). It comes from Parliament of Fowls (1380-1382).

For this was on seynt Volantynys day

Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make

‘For this was on Saint Valentine's Day

When every bird comes to choose his mate’

But it doesn't stop there: there are other possibilities. A medieval count from France is said to have been imprisoned by the British in the Tower of London in the early 15th century and wrote love letters and poems to his wife, whom he called ‘Valentines’.

A final possibility is that the period between Christmas and Easter was too long and that people wanted a “new holiday” somewhere in between, purely for commercial reasons. That is how they arrived at 14 February and made up some stories around it.

In any case, love and showing love is something that recurs in every period. This is also demonstrated by many archaeological finds.

During excavations carried out at the Meersen, the former parish of Saint Nicholas in Ypres, various pieces of evidence of this were found. For example, a brooch was found with two intertwined hands, referring to marital fidelity. A heart-shaped brooch was also found. If you look closely, you can see that one half is decorated and the other half is not. This may also refer to love, just think of the current necklaces or key rings in the shape of a heart that you can split in two so that you can keep one half.