Valentine's Day in Italy

San Valentino was Italian. The patron saint of love lived in Rome in the third century, and the celebration of l'amore has roots that run even deeper.

Who was San Valentino?

Valentino was born in Terni, a small town in central Umbria. Little is known about his life, though legends abound about his ardor in converting his neighbors to Christianity. After he moved to Rome, he began marrying Christian couples in secret. Word reached Emperor Claudius II, who demanded that Valentino renounce his faith. He refused and was martyred on February 14, 269.

From Lupercalia to Valentine's Day

For more than 200 years, Valentino was one saint among many, and his feast day was only lightly observed at Mass. In the fifth century, his story resurfaced while the Catholic Church was struggling with Lupercalia, a raucous ancient Roman fertility festival held from February 13 to 15. Remembering Valentino's passion for marriage, the pope replaced the pagan ritual with the saint's feast day.

Enter: Valentine's Day.

How the day spread

Over the centuries, poets like Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticized San Valentino and his day of love, popularizing it across Europe and eventually the New World. In the early 20th century, Hallmark joined in, and here we are, amid a tornado of hearts, candy and cards.

La Festa di San Valentino today

Italians mark the day with romantic dinners, meaningful gifts and — of course — chocolate.