The celebration of Valentine´s day as we know it today, shaped by pop culture, developed gradually. It was likely inspired by ancient Roman February rituals connected with purification and fertility, later by legends of a Christian martyr named Valentine, and above all by the medieval European idea of romantic love, especially within courtly and chivalric culture. Over the centuries, the holiday evolved from a church tradition into poetry and handwritten letters, and eventually into printed greeting cards, chocolates, and the iconic heart symbol.

Who was Saint Valentine?

Historians have long searched for an answer to the question: Who was Saint Valentine? Sources from late antiquity and the early Middle Ages mention several martyrs named Valentine or Valentinus, whose stories gradually blended together.

Most often, two figures connected with Italy are mentioned: a priest from Rome and a bishop from the town of Terni. Both died during the persecution of Christians in the 3rd century and both later became candidates for the “true” saint associated with February 14. There is also a third Valentine – a martyr from North Africa, about whom very little is known.

How did a saint’s feast day become a celebration of love?

Originally, the feast of Saint Valentine was a liturgical commemoration of a Christian martyr, recorded in church calendars. His cult spread mainly across Western and Southern Europe through relics and churches dedicated in his name.

However, celebrating a saint’s feast did not automatically mean a “holiday of love”. The romantic dimension appeared much later. In High Medieval Europe, especially in France and England, love notes and poetry associated with courtly and chivalric culture began to emerge, shaped by ideals of courtly love and literary traditions. At first, these expressions were not firmly tied to Saint Valentine’s Day itself, but rather to a broader aristocratic culture of poetry, symbolism, and entertainment.

The gradual linking of the feast day with romantic customs began to take shape in the early modern period, again mainly in England. From the 17th century onward, small romantic messages explicitly dated to February 14 started to appear. From there, the tradition spread across Western Europe.

A major transformation came in the 19th century, particularly in the United States. Advances in printing, postal services, mass production, and visual aesthetics led to the holiday’s rapid popularization and commercialization. It was at this point that Valentine’s Day became visually and symbolically “fixed” in the form we know today – with hearts, lace, flowers, doves, and cherubs – and in this form it gradually returned to Europe as a global cultural phenomenon.

A Czech connection in the history of Valentine’s Day

When we think of Valentine’s Day as a celebration of romance, one of the key moments lies in 14th-century England. At that time, people believed that birds chose their mates around mid-February – a poetic idea that began to influence human customs as well.

A crucial role was played by Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem The Parliament of Fowls, which connects Saint Valentine’s Day with the choice of a partner. It is one of the earliest written sources that gives February 14 a romantic meaning. And here, an interesting Czech detail appears: Chaucer wrote the poem for the engagement of the English king Richard II to Anne of Bohemia, the daughter of Charles IV.

What began as a politically motivated union transformed, in cultural memory, into a symbol of connection – and through literature, Valentine’s Day became “the day when love is chosen.” This is why Valentine’s Day has European, and to a certain extent Czech, roots: its romantic meaning was born in the minds of medieval poets and gradually spilled from poetry into everyday life.

Hearts: a symbol shaped over centuries

The heart symbol feels timeless – as if it has always existed. But the modern shape with two rounded lobes at the top and a point at the bottom is the result of a long evolution. Its origin is not entirely certain, but several strong theories show how symbols are formed: gradually, across cultures.

One theory points to botany. Heart-shaped leaves appeared in decorative art already in antiquity. Ivy, symbolizing fidelity, is often mentioned, as well as the fig tree. An even more famous connection is the plant silphium from Cyrene in North Africa. Silphium had heart-shaped seed pods, which also appeared on ancient coins. The plant was associated with intimacy and fertility – concepts linked to “love” long before Valentine’s Day ever existed.

Another explanation is cultural. In the Middle Ages, people believed the heart was the seat of emotions, memory, and the soul. With the rise of courtly love, illustrations began to feature the motif of the “gifted heart” – a person offering their heart to their beloved. Until the 14th century, hearts were often depicted upside down; it was only in the 15th century that the familiar shape became standardized, partly through heraldry and playing cards.

The holiday of love gained mass popularity with the spread of printed greeting cards in the 19th century. Especially in Victorian England and during the American Gilded Age, Valentine’s Day developed a strong visual style, and the heart became its central symbol.

Cherubs, roses, chocolate: why Valentine’s Day looks the way it does

Hearts, winged cherubs with arrows, and gifts are among the strongest symbols of Valentine’s Day. This trio blends antiquity, Christian aesthetics, and modern commercial culture.

The Valentine’s “angel” is actually a descendant of Cupid (or Eros), the god of desire, who strikes people with arrows of love. The arrow and the heart form a perfect visual shortcut: a single image that says “I’ve fallen in love” – suddenly, unexpectedly, forever. In Christian art, cherubim symbolized innocence and divine love. In the 19th century, these motifs merged, creating the “Valentine cherub” – half mythology, half romantic postcard.

Roses function as an instantly recognizable symbol of affection, with red in particular representing passion. Chocolate is a modern, universal gift: small, pleasurable, easy to share – and in a heart-shaped box, it quietly says “I’m thinking of you.”

Greeting cards also play a key role: from handwritten notes to mass production in the 19th century. That was when lace, doves, ornaments, hearts, and cherubs became firmly embedded in Valentine’s iconography. Modern times added their own elements: romantic dinners, surprises, engagements – and even some “new traditions” that look ancient (like love locks), because they work perfectly both as symbols and as photographs.

Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many different ways. In some countries it’s a day for couples, elsewhere it’s also about friendship (for example in Finland). In Japan and Korea, there is a structured system of gift-giving and even a “White Day.” But one thing remains constant: people are still looking for ways to say “you matter to me” – and Valentine’s Day offers them a shared language of symbols.

Where to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Prague?

And if you already know you’d like to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone, you can spend it at Máj – House of Fun.

At the luxurious Fly Vista restaurant, a special Valentine’s menu awaits you. Seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your Valentine’s experience at Fly Vista in advance and celebrate love above the city.

At LEVELS, a unique program is prepared: a wheel of fortune, a photo booth, and for the gentlemen, the chance to shoot a rose for their partner at the shooting range. And if you’re a history lover, you can also visit the immersive historical show Back in Time, which takes you on a journey through 1,200 years of Czech history with the help of a time machine.