Where does Valentine's Day come from?

If you're as much of a romantic as we are and you love getting excited about the celebration of Valentine's Day, then you're one of us. As we know, we are just a few days away from celebrating love and friendship in a big way—with our partners, friends, family, at work, and so on. While it's something we should remember and live out every day, it’s always a great excuse for all the lovers out there.

Who else remembers all those cards, heart-shaped lollipops, glitter-covered crafts, marshmallows, sugary chocolates, flowers with notes, or CDs with your favorite music that we gave or received when we were lovestruck teenagers? Beyond the materialism, it was so cool knowing that someone was thinking of you with enough interest to surprise you with a little something, or that you were surprising your boyfriend, girlfriend, or friends with something that made them feel special.

The exact date in Mexico is February 14th, but do you actually know where this tradition comes from? Here is a bit of background so you can understand more about this holiday, which you probably didn't know.

It began in the Roman Empire, with this celebration originating thanks to a priest named "Valentine." Back then, Emperor Claudius II banned marriage for young people, as he wanted to prevent them from having emotional ties, romantic bonds, or families, believing this would keep them focused on being better soldiers.

Valentine, like any good superhero in this story, was the original Cupid, as he opposed this decree. He helped young people get married in secret during that time, which is why "Saint Valentine"  became the patron saint of lovers.

When the emperor found out, on February 14, 270 AD, he sentenced Valentine to death for disobedience. That is why this date was established as a tribute to him and his faithful fight to preserve the bond between couples in times of war.

But did you know that it isn't celebrated on the same date all over the world? Sure, in Mexico we celebrate it on the original day, along with many other countries like Spain, the U.S., France, and Austria. But in Colombia, they celebrate it on the third Saturday of September; or how about in Uruguay, where it's celebrated in October, or Bolivia, right at the start of their spring on September 21st?

Over the years, Valentine's Day has become a celebration of love and friendship in many cultures, involving the exchange of gifts, flowers, romantic dinners, trips, experiences, or simply exchanging cards to remind your special people how much they mean to you.

We’ve put together some fresh ideas to surprise your partner this Valentine's Day.  Start with something classic like flowers, but give them a special touch with a cute, modern vase or base that doubles as home decor for their favorite space. You could also consider gifting a delicate piece of jewelry that matches their personality and can be worn every day.

Another option is to gift an experience you can share, like a massage, a weekend getaway, or an overnight stay at Barrio México, where they can leave the chaos behind and relax in a charming space like ours. If you both love photos, you could book a professional photoshoot together or gather your best travel and adventure pictures to create an album that lets you relive your favorite memories.

Finally, we recommend taking your partner out for a romantic dinner. You can check out our blog post from last week, where we shared the top 5 restaurant options in Guadalajara for the celebration. https://www.barriomexico.travel/blog/5-lugares-para-la-date-perfecta-en-este-14-de-febrero

So tell us, how do you celebrate love and friendship?

See you soon.