Valentine’s Day Q&A

Valentine’s Day is a holiday invented by Americans to celebrate love, right? Like Thanksgiving?

Nope. Valentine’s Day is actually an ancient holiday dating clean back to the Romans and possibly before.

Valentine’s Day is always celebrated in America on February 14^th. Because of the permanently fixed date, the day of the week changes from year to year. 

Valentine’s Day is a particularly huge holiday in Las Vegas because people flood in from around the country and even the world to get married then. Wedding chapels in the area do a booming business! I mean who wouldn’t want to get married on Valentine’s Day? It’s easy to remember, it’s a terrific love celebration, and you’ll never forget the date to celebrate…and for the guys who do, what a wonderful built-in camouflage! Makes us gals think twice, but just the same, romance is always in the air and we like it more than they do anyway. Valentine’s Day is a big day for weddings, it is also a good one for proposals.

Traditional gifts on Valentine’s Day are cards, candy, lingerie, dinner, and flowers. The more fortunate receive jewelry, cars, and exotic vacations.

It’s interesting to note that women are almost twice as likely as men to have been underwhelmed by the efforts of their significant others on Valentine’s Day. I am just saying.

Well, it’s a big religious holiday that really got started with St. Valentine, right?

Well, not quite. Today’s Valentine’s Day is kind of a blend of ancient Roman and Christian origins. Legend has it that ancient Roman priests would go to a sacred cave where it was believed a she-wolf cared for the city’s founders, Romulus and Remus when they were children. They’d celebrate, worship, and sacrifice animals. Some scholars say fertility rites were included.

And though there appears to have been at least 3 St. Valentine’s (or Valentinus, for you ancient Romans) in the Church, Christian teachings talk about one in 3^rd century Rome who was put to death for continuing to marry couples against Emperor Claudius’ decree that marriage was to end. Claudius was of the persuasion that single, unmarried, childless men made better warriors, so he made marriage verboten. Historians still have spats over which of the three was really the one, but we vote this story best.  

Well, then Valentine’s Day cards are definitely an American idea. Are they just another capitalist Hallmark holiday designed to get people to spend money on cards, gifts, and candy?

Well, actually no. You see Valentine’s greetings were popular in Medieval Times. In fact, it seems the first greeting cards were penned as early as 1400. The one Duke Charles of Orleans made while being held as a prisoner of war in the Tower of London in 1415 still exists! You can still go see it today if you want to. He even had a poem in it. They also have examples of old ones from English kings as well.

Well, okay, I give up! Then Cupid must have come from somewhere else!

Right you are. The diapered little arrow slinger has roots way back to the ancient Greek god Eros. Cupid traces his heritage to this immortal god who meddled in the love affairs among mortals. 

No matter what tales of history you prefer, today we date, decorate, and celebrate on Valentine’s Day. And when it comes to getting married in Las Vegas on Valentine’s Day, book your wedding at the Royal Wedding Chapel. We make weddings easy, romantically elegant, and completely affordable. Call 702.803-2219 or go online to https://royalweddingchapel.com