Ahhh, St. Valentine’s Day. How do I love thee? Let me trace your origins. Were you, in fact, created by Hallmark cards or Russell Stover Candies, as we have suspected all along? Luckily, Fintel Library currently has access to Accessible Archives, a rich, comphrehensive database that contains full text historical accounts, such as newspaper and magazine articles from the mid-1800s. The researcher can get a glimpse into the daily lives of 18th and 19th century Americans.
So, what does Accessible Archives have to say about “Valentine’s Day”? A lot.
Out of the 1500 results that come up after the keyword “Valentines” is searched, Godey’s Lady’s Book has the most interesting articles. According to one that was published in February of 1867, Valentine’s Day has origins dating back to ancient Rome.
“THE following account of the origin and customs of St. Valentine’ s day in the olden time is taken from an old author:— “It was the practice in ancient Rome, during a great part of the month of February, to celebrate the Lupercalia, which were feasts in honor of Pan and Juno, whence the latter deity was named Februata, Februalis, and Februlla. On this occasion, amidst a variety of ceremonies, the names of young women were put into a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed. The pastors of the early Christian church, who by every possible means endeavored to eradicate the vestiges of pagan superstitions, and chiefly by some commutations of their forms, substituted, in the present instance, the names of particular saints instead of those of the women; and as the festival of the Lupercalia had commenced about the middle of February, they appear to have chosen St. Valentine’ s day for celebrating the new feast, because it occurred nearly at the same time. It should seem, however, that it was utterly impossible to extirpate altogether any ceremony to which the common people had been much accustomed; a fact which it were easy to prove it tracing the origin of various other popular superstitions. And accordingly the outline of the ancient ceremonies was preserved, but modified by some adaptation to the Christian system. It is reasonable to suppose that the above practice of choosing mates would gradually became reciprocal in the sexes; and that all persons so chosen would be called Valentines , from the day on which the ceremony took place.”
Other customs are mentioned that are more current, though still dating to the early 1800s. One in particular is this researcher’s favorite:
A singular custom prevailed many years since in the west of England. “Three single young men went out together before daylight on St. Valentine’s day, with a clapnet to catch an old owl and two sparrows in a neighboring barn. If they were successful, and could bring the birds to the inn without injury before the females of the house had risen, they were rewarded by the hostess with three pots of purl in honor of St. Valentine, and enjoyed the privilege of demanding at any other house in the neighborhood a similar boon. This was done, says our correspondent, as an emblem that the owl being the bird of wisdom, could influence the feathered race to enter the net of love as mates on that day, whereon both single lads and maidens should be reminded that happiness could alone be secured by an early union.”
An owl had to be captured?! That ups the ante a bit. Aren’t you glad it’s all just roses and candies now?
Here is a link to our Accessible Archives Trial, along with all of the content it covers:
http://www.accessible.com/accessible/
African American Newspapers: The 19th Century, Parts I–XII Supplement
The Christian Recorder 01/19/1861 – 12/31/1902
The Colored American 03/04/1837 – 12/25/1841
Frederick Douglass Paper 06/26/1851 – 12/14/1855
01/1859 – 12/1863
Freedom’s Journal 03/16/1827 – 03/28/1829
The National Era 01/07/1847 – 03/22/1860
The North Star 12/03/1847 – 04/17/1851
Provincial Freeman 01/20/1854 – 09/12/1857
Weekly Advocate 01/07/1837 – 02/25/1837
American County Histories to 1900 I: Mid-Atlantic States
Delaware
Maryland
New Jersey
New York I – Southeast
New York II – Central
New York III – West
New York IV – North
Pennsylvania I – East
Pennsylvania II – Central
Pennsylvania III – Southwest
Pennsylvania IV – Northwest
American County Histories to 1900 II: New England States
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
The Civil War, Part I: A Newspaper Perspective
The Charleston Mercury 12/24/1860 – 02/11/1865
The New York Herald 01/01/1861 – 05/31/1865
Richmond Enquirer 01/01/1861 – 02/18/1865
The Civil War, Part II: The Soldiers’ Perspective
(see “Detailed Descriptions” section below for publication titles)
The Civil War, Part III: The Generals’ Perspective
(see “Detailed Descriptions” section below for publication titles)
The Civil War, Part IV: A Midwestern Perspective
News of the Day 1855-1857
The Old Post Union 1862: 5 months worth
(became The Vincennes Times)
Stars & Stripes 1862: 2 issues
Vincennes Courant 1855-1856
Vincennes Gazette 1855-1869
The Vincennes Times 1865-1866
Vincennes Western Sun 1856-1869
The Civil War, Part V: Iowa’s Perspective
(see “Detailed Descriptions” section below for publication titles)
The Civil War, Part VI: Northeast Regimental Histories
(see “Detailed Descriptions” section below for publication titles)
Godey’s Lady’s Book 07/1830 – 12/1898
The Liberator 01/01/1831 – 12/31/1865
The Pennsylvania Gazette 10/01/1728 – 12/31/1800
The Pennsylvania Genealogical Catalogue
Village Record 01/07/1818 – 12/31/1870
The Pennsylvania Newspaper Record: Delaware County
Delaware County American 07/02/1851 – 01/25/1871
Delaware County Democrat two issues
Delaware County Republican 08/30/1833 – 12/30/1870
The Post Boy few issues
The Upland Union 08/23/1825 – 11/03/1835;
01/02/1850 – 03/17/1852
South Carolina Newspapers
The Charlestown Gazette 1779 – 1780
The Gazette of the State of South-Carolina 1777 – 1780
South Carolina & American General Gazette 1764 – 1775
The South Carolina Gazette 01/08/1732 – 12/28/1775
South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal 1765 – 1775
The Virginia Gazette 09/10/1736 – 04/08/1780
The American Republican few sporadic issues 1810 – 1861
Chester & Delaware Federalist 06/21/1809 – 12/31/1817
Chester County Republican 06/10/1842 – 09/09/1842
Eden Star few issues
Media Advertiser 03/01/1855 – 02/13/1856
Literary Magazine few issues
The Pennsylvania Packet 04/15/1776 – 01/02/1779
The Weekly Visitor few issues
Westchester Gazette few issues