The Bloody History of Valentine's Day: 7 Events That Prove February 14 Was Never About Romance

What Really Happened on Valentine's Day Throughout History? From Martyrdom to Massacre

February 14 is celebrated worldwide as Valentine's Day, but the date carries far more weight than flowers and chocolates. Named after Saint Valentine, an early Christian figure believed to have been martyred on this date, the holiday's origins are rooted in faith and sacrifice. In 1969, the Catholic Church removed Valentine from its calendar due to ongoing doubts about the authenticity of his life.

But the history of February 14 stretches across centuries, touching faith, politics, and even organized crime. Here are seven events that shaped the world on this date.

In 1014, German King Henry II was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII. Henry enlisted Catholic bishops and granted them secular authority within his territory. He insisted on episcopal celibacy to ensure that on the death of a bishop, the see would not fall into the hands of the bishop's children. He was canonized as a saint over 120 years after his death.

In 1556, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury, a key figure in the English Protestant Reformation, was stripped of his titles and robes. Queen Mary I had him degraded at the cathedral church in Oxford. He was attired in layman's dress and returned to prison. One month later, he was burned at the stake for his Protestant beliefs.

Enslaved people "were born at times: harvest times, watermelon times, and generally hard times." Frederick Douglass, 1888

Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, was born on February 14, 1818. His exact birth date is uncertain because his first enslaver kept poor records. Douglass chose Valentine's Day as his official birthday, believing it was inappropriate to celebrate anyone's birthday while they were still living.

In 1849, President James K. Polk became the first sitting U.S. president to be photographed, with famed photographer Matthew Brady capturing the daguerreotype in New York. Polk's presidency was ending in March, and he died later that same year.

Seven Events That Changed the World on February 14: Faith, Freedom, and Violence

In 1912, Arizona became the last of the 48 contiguous states to join the Union. The territory had been acquired through the 1854 Gadsden Purchase under President James Buchanan. Arizona voters had previously rejected a proposal to enter as part of New Mexico. Oregon also gained statehood on February 14, but decades earlier in 1859.

The most infamous event on this date is the St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929. Around 10:30 a.m. on February 14, a black Cadillac stopped in front of a Chicago garage. Four men, two disguised as police officers, instructed everyone inside to stand against a wall and opened fire with two Thompson submachine guns and a shotgun. Seven men were killed. The attack was ordered by Al Capone against his rival George "Bugs" Moran's North Side gang. No one was ever convicted.

On Valentine's Day 1989, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the death of author Salman Rushdie over his novel The Satanic Verses. Despite the decree, Rushdie continued his literary career and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. In 2022, an Islamic extremist attacked him in New York, stabbing him multiple times. He survived but lost sight in one eye.

The Crusader's Opinion

Valentine's Day started with a Christian martyr giving his life for the faith. That is the real story. Not the cards, not the candy. A man of God was killed for refusing to deny Christ. And look at what has followed on this date across the centuries: Cranmer burned alive for his Protestant convictions. A fatwa issued against a writer by an Islamic theocracy. The blood of the faithful has stained February 14 since the very beginning. We should never forget that the freedom to worship, to speak, and to love was purchased at an extraordinary cost. Every Christian who lights a candle on Valentine's Day should remember whose blood made it possible.

Take Action

• Share the true story of Saint Valentine with your family and friends this February 14. Remind them that Valentine's Day was born from Christian martyrdom, not Hallmark.
• Support persecuted Christians worldwide through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to believers facing violence for their faith.
• Donate to Open Doors USA to help Christians living under the threat of persecution in over 70 countries.
• Read the stories of Christian martyrs like Thomas Cranmer and Saint Valentine to your children. Teach the next generation what real courage and conviction look like.
• Pray for Salman Rushdie and all those targeted by religious violence. Pray for the conversion of those who issue death sentences in the name of their faith.