Reading Comprehension · Social Studies
Valentine’s Day
A reading lesson about the history of Valentine’s Day — from Saint Valentine and medieval courtly love to the first mass-produced valentines in America.
Full Member resource. See what membership includes →
Subject
Reading Comprehension
Grade Level
Grades 4–7
Format
Lesson + Printable PDF
Access
Full Member
The History of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is celebrated each year on February 14th. The feast day of the Catholic Saint Valentine, February 14th has become known as a day to celebrate love. On Valentine’s Day, people give cards and gifts to romantic partners and others they love. Cards exchanged on Valentine’s Day have come to be known simply as valentines. It is estimated that close to one billion valentines are sent worldwide each year.
In the Middle Ages, a tradition of courtly love inspired Valentine’s Day. The idea behind courtly love was for a man to court his romantic interest — doing his best to be worthy of her love. Some of the ways to court a woman included giving her gifts and acting like a gentleman. The Saint Valentine honored on Valentine’s Day may be more of a legend than an actual person. However, two men named Valentine who are recognized as saints share a feast day of February 14th in the Catholic calendar.
A possible explanation for the choice of February for Valentine’s Day is that it was chosen by the church to replace the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was held each February to honor the god Lupercus. In Christian times, the tradition changed. In the year 496, Pope Gelacius I abolished Lupercalia and declared February 14th Saint Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day in America
More than a thousand years later, Valentine’s Day had become popular throughout Europe, where gift giving and the exchange of handmade valentines was common in the 1500s. In America, it was in the 1700s that people began the tradition of exchanging paper valentines on February 14th.
In the 1840s, the first mass-produced valentines were created and sold by a woman named Esther A. Howland. Known as the Mother of Valentine’s Day, Ms. Howland sold greetings she created from pictures, lace, and ribbon. Her valentines were so popular that she hired family and friends to help her, and she soon had a successful business.
Another American who helped popularize valentines was George C. Whitney. He started by running a stationery store and by 1888, his company was one of the largest publishers of valentines in the United States, with offices in New York, Boston, and Chicago. The tradition of sending valentines has continued to grow to this day — now only Christmas cards are sent in greater numbers than Valentine’s Day cards.
Download the Worksheet
Full Members can download the printable PDF worksheet and answer key.
Looking for more reading comprehension worksheets? Browse all reading lessons or become a Full Member to access every printable PDF.