According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Valentine’s Day, also known as St. Valentine’s Day, originated in Ancient Rome sometime around the fifth century. Back then, it was associated with the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was a celebration of fertility rites and the arrival of spring.
During the 1500s, Valentine’s Day came to be celebrated as a day of love and romance. Cupid, the Roman god of love, has long been associated with the holiday, as well as hearts and red roses.
The first commercial valentines were printed in the U.S. in the mid-1800s, and the tradition of exchanging cards and gifts on St. Valentine’s Day continues to this day.
This week, Kokopelli staff reporters asked 96 different NMSU students and faculty members a series of questions about Valentine’s Day. Here is what they found:
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