Why is Valentine's Day celebrated (but less so in Catalonia)?

BarcelonaEvery year we are bombarded with chocolates, balloons, songs, films and a thousand other representations of romantic love. But it seems that we Catalans decide to close our eyes and ignore February 14th. And although it seems undeniable that Sant Jordi is the day of lovers in Catalonia, Google search statisticsreveal that interest in both celebrations is more balanced than it might seem. And Valentine's Day may have a more Catalan past than we think. In fact, we have evidence of February 14 as Valentine's Day since the 15th century. Specifically, there is a mention of this holiday in a poem by Vega-Aguiló songbook where one can interpret the condition of Saint Valentine as the patron saint of lovers. The song is attributed to the poet Pardo de la Casta, who dedicates it to a lady of unknown name and tells her that "time demands that she sing" for "the joyful day of the noble Saint Valentine."

Valentine's Day is also known for being a day marked by shopping, which can often be seen as unnecessary. This view of February 14 can also keep us from celebrating it, and we can easily see it as an excuse to buy, since many companies also take advantage of it. In fact, according to Check Point Software, only in January of last year more than 18,000 web domains were created with the words valentine either love. 1 in 8 domains was considered malicious or risky. This shows that cybercriminals also take advantage of this holiday due to the volume of purchases it entails.

However, it would not be so strange for us in Catalonia to end up giving our partners a nice dinner or a box of chocolates if the true story of Saint Valentine became more widely known. It is not entirely clear who this figure was, although the most widespread story is that of a Roman bishop from the time of Emperor Claudius II, around the 3rd century. According to the Library of Catalonia, Valentine died a martyr and his supposed relics were transferred to the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages. The body was venerated until 1835, when they were moved to Navarcles, where the remains are still preserved.

Who was Saint Valentine? Origin and history of the holiday

Whether or not this was actually the Valentine's Day that gave rise to the tradition of Valentine's Day remains a mystery. What is known is that the holiday began to be celebrated in the 15th century in England and Scotland, where it coincided with the beginning of spring. It was also celebrated in France, Switzerland and, obviously, in the United States, although the clergy considered it a pagan festival and they were against it.

Valentine's Day has spread mainly for profit, although in the beginning it was also associated with secretly marrying couples in love, sending romantic letters or celebrating dates dedicated to love and fertility. Catalans are undeniably exposed to the commercial vision of February 14 and we already have our own celebration of love. But this does not mean that we do not have room for one more day, apart from Sant Jordi, to give each other gifts and celebrate that we are in love. If you are thinking of giving a gift for Valentine's Day, Maybe here you can find some ideas.

Do younger people celebrate Valentine's Day more?

Although among Catalan adults Valentine's Day is celebrated by Sant Jordi, it is not so common among younger generations. An inheritance from American television, or perhaps from the Internet, has left a greater mark on the imagination of this group. Raluca Sisca is 22 years old and works in an English academy teaching boys and girls between 8 and 10 years old. While neither she nor her close circle celebrate this day, she explains that she has been surprised that her students give each other gifts on this date: "They are excited, they know about it through social networks because they are connected all day and have access to the Internet despite their age." She explains that they give each other teddy bears, flowers, toys or drawings made by them.