In Brazil, for many decades, throughout June 12 celebrate Valentine's Day. This date, in addition to making an obvious reference to love, affection and affection between couples, also refers to the immense commercial movement that accompanies it. In other countries, there is also a specific day that has the same purpose. However, it is not the 12th of June, but the February 14th, as happens in the United States. American Valentine's Day is named as Valentine'sday, that is, "Valentine Day". But why the difference between the days of celebration? And why the reference to a saint?
See too:Five love poems by Vinícius de Moraes
Why is Valentine's Day celebrated on February 14th in some countries?
To understand why Valentine's Day is celebrated in several countries on February 14th and is called Valentine's Day, it is necessary to refer to the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages.
During the first three centuries of this era, Christianity swelled in the heart of the Roman Empire. Many people who lived in Europe, formerly adherents of the pagan religions, converted to the Christian religion and began to exercise a conduct that conformed to the dogmas and morals of Christianity. In this context, many emperors carried out persecutions against Christians, especially against those who stood out or carried out some activity that disturbed the Empire's determinations.
St. Valentine's Story
In the third century d. Ç., valentine, one of the Church's bishops, celebrated weddings for young Christians who wanted to carry out the sacrament of marriage. The institution of marriage hurt the interests of the then emperor Claudius II, who saw in monogamous marriage something harmful to young people of military age. The emperor prohibited the celebration of the marriage. However, Valentim continued to carry out his activities. Having contravened the emperor's directives, Valentine was arrested and then beheaded on February 14, 270 AD. Ç. His martyrdom caused the Catholic Church to consider him a saint a posteriori.
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It is speculated, without historical precision, that when Valentim was in prison, he fell in love with a girl. This passion resulted in the exchange of love confession notes. With his death, Valentim would have become a symbol of loving union, both because of the weddings he celebrated and the exchanged tickets. Whether accurate or not, the story of tickets or cards with loving content began to circulate in medieval and modern Europe, with the addition of narratives about Valentine's death. Gradually, these stories and his death date became associated with Valentine's Day.
To this association were also added the old festivals of lupercalia, a pagan festival held in Rome for the purpose of sexual unions. Such parties also took place in February, on a date close to the date on which Valentim was killed.
See too:medieval courtly love
Why in Brazil is Valentine's Day celebrated on June 12th?
In the case of Brazil, the Valentine's Day it did not have the reception it had in other countries. In the year 1949, João Dória, a businessman in the advertising industry, created a commercial program that would be related to the celebration of Valentine's Day in Brazil. The day chosen by Dória, however, was the 12th of June, the day before the commemoration of the day of St. Anthony, considered the Holy Matchmaker. Since then, the date of June 12th remains the date of Valentine's Day in Brazil.
By Me. Cláudio Fernandes
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FERNANDES, Claudio. "June 12th — Valentine's Day"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/datas-comemorativas/dia-dos-namorados.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
