Who was this man named Saint Valentine? And why do we have a holiday named Valentine's Day? In this episode, we concisely trace the origins of the February holiday, from its pagan origins to the inventor of the modern tradition of it.

WORKS CITED:

1. Bitel, Lisa. "The Gory Origins of Valentine's Day." Smithsonianmag.com. The Conversation, February 14, 2018. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gory-origins-valentines-day-180968156/

2. "History of Valentine's Day." History.com. History, updated February 6, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-valentines-day

3. Little, Becky. "Nothing Says 'I Hate You' Like a 'Vinegar Valentine'." Smithsonianmag.com. Smithsonian Institution, February 10, 2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/nothing-says-i-hate-you-vinegar-valentine-180962109/

4. Pace, Madeleine. "Chaucer and the origins of Valentine's Day." The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, College of Arts and Sciences. The Well, February 14, 2020. https://college.unc.edu/2020/02/chaucer-valentines/

5. Ponti, Crystal. "Victorian-Era 'Vinegar' Valentines Could Be Mean and Hostile." History.com. History, updated May 28, 2025. https://www.history.com/articles/victorian-valentines-day-cards-vinegar

6. Smith, Jordan. "What Does the Bible Say About Valentine's Day?" History.com. History, February 11, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/valentines-day-bible-religious-origins

7. Wakeman, Gregory. "Valentine's Day Had a Dark, Bloody Precursor." History.com. History, updated February 13, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/dark-truth-valentines-day-lupercalia