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Every February 14th people around the world celebrate Saint Valentine’s with great enthusiasm. A wonderful day for many to celebrate love, friendship, and partnership. Some may think behind the celebration there are only commercial objectives, but even though in recent years companies have been able to monetize the celebration, its origins come way before this.

Saint Valentin was a priest who, around the third century in Rome, challenged Emperor Claudius II, who decided to prohibit the celebration of marriages for young people, because in his opinion single men without family and with less ties were better soldiers.

The priest considered the prohibition unfair and secretly celebrated marriages for young people in love, becoming the patron of lovers.

Upon learning, Emperor Claudius ordered Valentin’s imprisonment and sentenced him to death claiming disobedience and rebellion. The legend says that Asterius, the officer in charge of his imprisonment wanted to ridicule and test the faith of Valentin. He challenged the priest to return the sight to his daughter Julia, who was born blind. Valentin accepted and, in the name of God, restored her sight, astonishing Asterius and his family, who converted to Christianity. Later, the young Julia, endowed with the sense of sight, planted an almond tree with pink flowers next to the priest’s grave as a symbol of lasting love and friendship.

Valentin remained imprisoned until his martyrization and execution on February 14, 270. For this reason, Valentine's Day is commemorated on the same date each year.

Celebrations around the world

The day is a tradition mostly for western cultures, since it goes back to Roman times, it passed to America and then to a large part of the world, spreading to eastern countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and others. Every one has fallen in love and what better excuse to celebrate it than on this date.

In Europe, the continent where it all began, February 14 is celebrated as the international day of lovers in many European countries such as Spain, Austria, Belgium and France. In Finland and Estonia Valentine's Day is a tribute to friendship and receives the name of ' Sobrapäev ' and ' Ystävän Paiva ', respectively. Traditionally Denmark and Norway men give women small poems with funny rhymes.

In some Latin American countries this day is also celebrated on February 14th and traditional gifts include flowers, letters, chocolates, candy or anything that is romantic. However, Latin-Americans have more dates during the year to celebrate friendship and love.

In Argentina it is called "Valentine's Day", and the union between couples is celebrated. In addition to this date, they celebrate the Day of the Friend (July 20), and before this the Week of Sweetness is celebrated.

During this week is habitual to gift candy.

In Brazil, the 'Day Two Namorados' celebrated on June 12 is the counterpart of Saint Valentine’s. It is a day in memory of San Antonio de Padua, a saint famous for being a matchmaker. Traditionally couples exchange gifts and cards. It is celebrated on this date, since February is the month in which the carnival is celebrated.

In Chile it is celebrated on February 14, Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day, but Friendship Day is celebrated at the end of June. The usual thing is to send greetings through social networks.

In Colombia, it is getting more common to celebrate Saint Valentine’s. However, the main celebration is normally the third Saturday of the month of September, known as they day of love and friendship. The tradition of the secret friend is common, which consists in introducing the names of the participants in a container and then choosing one randomly. The person who got your name you will be your secret friend and, without you finding out who is, he or she should send you candy, flowers and cards throughout the month. In the end you will receive a final gift and will find out who was your secret friend.

In Costa Rica it is called "Valentine's Day" or "Day of Love and Friendship" and is celebrated among couples, family and friends, it is customary to give chocolates, flowers, gifts, or cards. At night, couples usually have a romantic dinner.

The celebration has also reached the eastern part of the globe, and traditions tend to be similar among countries. For example, in South Korea, the women are the ones who give chocolate to their lovers. A month later, the men must reciprocate making a gift to their girlfriend.

At the same time in Japan, women give chocolates to men, whether their relatives, friends or co-workers. Then men return the favor a month later, on March 14, a celebration known as White Day, a day in which they usually give away white chocolates, marshmallows or any white gift.

In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated since the mid-twentieth century, initially promoted by the chocolate company Morozoff in 1936.

No matter where you come from or what your traditions are, Valentine’s day is the perfect occasion to show your love to every special person in your life, to your family, friends and couple. Here in Wagner we wish you a happy Valentine’s day full of love and happiness!