Hiroshima City

Valentine’s Day is a big deal worldwide, including in Japan. To understand why you need to understand how the holiday came to be. The Origins of Valentine’s Day Although the origin of St. Valentine’s Day is a bit murky, the holiday as we know it is undoubtedly a mix of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. One account suggests Valentine was a Roman imprisoned and killed for his efforts to help Christians escape Roman prisons. He sent the first “valentine” greeting – a letter signed “From your Valentine” – after he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. The legend goes that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial. Another claim is that the Christian church may have decided to place its St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Various other stories about the origins of Valentine’s Day exist – the holiday is shrouded in mystery. Whatever the case, the stories all emphasize Valentine’s appeal (whoever he was) as a sympathetic, heroic, and – most importantly – romantic figure. The holiday eventually evolved into…