Love Is in the Air: Exploring the Reasons We Celebrate Valentine's Day

Photo Credit: by scronfinixio, Pixabay.com

There’s no holiday more romantic than Valentine’s Day! While some call it a Hallmark holiday, it’s celebrated around the world, most often with love, roses, and heart-shaped chocolates.

But did you know there’s a rich history beyond its commercial charm? In this article, we’ll explore the evolving traditions, surprising facts, and health benefits of Valentine’s Day. It’s more than just an excuse to indulge in romance. (Don’t forget about Galentine’s Day too!)

History and traditions of Valentine’s Day

While Valentine's Day has certainly been commercialized in the modern world, it actually dates back to ancient Rome.

It is believed that what we know today as Valentine’s Day originated as a festival called Lupercalia. Celebrated in mid-February, Lupercalia marked the coming of spring with fertility rites and matchmaking ceremonies.

According to Real Simple, “Valentine’s Day is a fixed day on the calendar that got lumped into a mid-February holiday on the ancient Roman calendar called Lupercalia—which some historians believe is what led to Valentine's Day being all about love. Lupercalia celebrated fertility and may have included a ritual in which men and women were paired off by choosing names from jars. In Ancient Greece, people observed a mid-winter celebration for the marriage of the god Zeus and the goddess Hera.”

Real Simple adds, “At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th Valentine’s Day, and since then, February 14th has been a day of celebration—though it was generally more religious than romantic.”

By the Middle Ages, it became customary to exchange handmade cards and tokens of admiration. Today, those traditions have expanded to include lavish gifts, dinners, and even Galentine’s Day—a February 13 celebration of friendship popularized by Millennials and Gen Z.

As you can see, Valentine’s Day has evolved over the centuries into more of a celebration of love and affection and doesn’t have many religious connotations today. Whether you’re partnered, single, or embracing platonic love with your best friends, Valentine’s Day presents the perfect annual excuse to celebrate heartfelt connections of all kinds.

What does love do for your health?

Did you know that love isn’t just good for your heart metaphorically; it’s good for your physical and mental well-being, too? Unsurprisingly, it’s pretty good for your heart!

There are many physical health benefits that stem from love and affection:

1. Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Oxytocin, often called the love hormone, is released during physical touch, intimate moments, and bonding opportunities. These aren’t limited to romantic love; for example, oxytocin is released in excess when a mother gives birth or breastfeeds her baby, so oxytocin is even present in parent-child relationships. This hormone has been shown to lower stress and anxiety levels, which is always a good thing in our fast-paced and chaotic world.

2. Improved Heart Health: Sharing love and connection can improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. Couples who celebrate romantic holidays together may experience fewer heart-related issues. The University of Arizona reports, “affectionate communication is consistently associated with more positive health outcomes, especially concerning cardiovascular health.”

3. Enhanced Emotional Well-Being: Regular expressions of love—from sharing compliments to acts of kindness—boost happiness and decrease feelings of loneliness. This applies to romantic relationships, friendships, and family bonds.

4. Better Sexual Health: A healthy sex life is linked to improved immune function, pain relief, and better sleep. And Valentine’s Day is as good an excuse as any to spend time in the bedroom.

Solid relationships can contribute to longevity, too, especially for men. According to NHCPS, “researchers have found that married couples often live longer than unmarried people, never have been married, divorced or widowed. Many experts believe this to be the case simply because typically single men engage in more high-risk health behaviors than married men, such as heavy drinking and faster driving.”

The article concludes, “While love cannot replace healthy choices such as daily exercise and a low-cholesterol diet, it certainly has health benefits!”

So, whether it’s a candlelit dinner with a partner or a cozy night with friends, taking time to celebrate love has undeniable health perks for the mind and body.

How to celebrate Valentine’s Day at every age

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for starry-eyed couples in their 20s, high school sweethearts, or kindergarteners who pass out Valentine’s to their whole class. It’s a holiday that can be enjoyed at every age and stage of life.

Below are some ways that lovers at any phase can celebrate this special day:

Young Love: Teens and young adults often embrace the excitement of first dates and exchanging heartfelt messages.

Newlyweds: Couples celebrating their first Valentine’s Day after marriage might focus on creating traditions, such as cooking dinner together or sharing handwritten notes.

Established Couples: For those in long-term relationships, the day is an opportunity to reignite the spark with thoughtful gestures or a weekend getaway. It becomes easy to pass over holidays like Valentine’s Day as the years pass, but keeping love alive is essential.

Golden Years: Seniors might prioritize quality time and shared memories, proving that love’s flame burns brightly at any age. It’s a great day to look over treasured photo albums, such as a wedding album or collection of favorite family memories.

No matter your age, eating a square of dark chocolate, sipping a glass of red wine (or grape juice), or keeping flowers (roses included) in your home might do you some good.

UK Meds writes, “Plants oxygenate the air, so when kept in indoor spaces, they can provide your brain with more oxygen to help it perform at its best. Not only that, but they can also help you to relax. The scent of flowers can soothe you and lower stress levels, especially if you include something like lavender in the bouquet.”

How Gen Z and Millennials celebrate Valentine’s Day

Times are always changing! But love is one thing that lasts.

Digital natives have redefined how we celebrate Valentine’s Day, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual dates, social media posts, and personalized e-cards have become increasingly popular among Gen Z and Millennials.

Many couples now embrace new-age traditions such as:

Virtual Celebrations: Video calls with wine and dinner have become the norm for long-distance relationships.

Social Media Declarations: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with Valentine’s Day posts, from DIY gift ideas to viral challenges to carousels with treasured memories over the years.

Customized Experiences: Millennials and Gen Z value meaningful, curated experiences over expensive gifts; some ideas include virtual escape rooms, online cooking classes, or digital photo albums.

Even singles have embraced modern trends like Galentine’s Day (a celebration with girlfriends) or self-love rituals to celebrate themselves, their friendships, and their relationships with themselves.

Tips and ideas for celebrating the day of love

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to break the bank, follow a clichéd formula, or be a cookie-cutter commercialized holiday. Here are some creative ways to make the most of the day:

1. For Couples:

- Plan a surprise picnic with homemade treats.

- Write a love letter or create a scrapbook of shared memories.

- Recreate your first date at home or revisit the spot where you first met.

2. For Singles:

- Host a Galentine’s Day brunch or happy hour with friends.

- Treat yourself to a spa day or buy that item you’ve been eyeing.

- Volunteer at a local charity to spread love within your community.

3. For Families:

- Bake heart-shaped cookies with kids.

- Watch a romantic comedy or family-friendly love story together.

- Craft Valentine’s Day cards for neighbors or relatives, especially the elderly.

4. For Everyone:

- Focus on acts of kindness, such as sending a thoughtful message to a friend.

- Incorporate heart-healthy activities like a couple’s yoga class or a walk in the park.

- Share the love with your pets—they deserve a treat too!

Yes, your pets can be included in the celebrations! UAB Medicine writes, “Studies show that the bond between people and their pets is linked to health benefits such as lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased feelings of loneliness and anxiety.”

Valentine’s Day is more than just a romantic holiday. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the relationships that enrich our lives, from partners to friends and even ourselves. By embracing the holiday’s traditions, prioritizing health and well-being, and celebrating love at every age, we can make February 14 a day that warms both the heart and soul.

Whether you’re planning a virtual date with a new love interest, a romantic getaway with a spouse, or a cozy night in by yourself, let love and gratitude guide the way.

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