Valentine's Day, celebrated on the 14th of February every year, is synonymous with love, romance, and affection. While it's widely recognised as a day for expressing love, fewer people are familiar with its historical origins and how it became associated with the tradition of proposing marriage. This article delves into the history of Valentine's Day and explores the tradition of proposing on this romantic day.

Valentine's Day dates back to ancient Rome, with its origins in the pagan festival of Lupercalia, celebrated from February 13th to 15th. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. During this festival, priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification, and then they would strip the goat's hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood, and take to the streets, gently slapping women and crop fields with the goat hide. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year.

By the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine's Day. It was set as February 14th in an effort to Christianise the pagan celebration. The day was dedicated to Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century, though there are several legends associated with him. The most popular one tells of a priest who performed secret weddings for young lovers at a time when Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage for young men, believing that single men made better soldiers. According to legend, Valentine was executed for defying the emperor's decree, and before his execution, he wrote a letter to a young girl he had fallen in love with, signing it "From your Valentine," a phrase that lives on today.

Over the centuries, Valentine's Day evolved from a day of fertility rites and secret marriages to a more formalized holiday. By the Middle Ages, Valentine had become one of the most popular saints in England and France, where February 14th was believed to be the day that birds paired off for mating. This led to the association of the middle of February with love and fertility.

By the 18th century, it became a common practice in England to exchange hand-made cards and small tokens of affection or even keys as an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart. As printing technology improved, mass-produced Valentine's cards became popular, making it easier to express love and affection.

The tradition of proposing on Valentine's Day has its roots in the very essence of the day—celebrating love and companionship. The day's association with romance and the legendary acts of Saint Valentine in marrying couples in secret, despite the risks, have made it an ideal day to express one’s commitment to a lifelong partnership.

Proposing on Valentine's Day has become popular for several reasons. Firstly, the day itself is symbolic of love and thus provides a romantic backdrop for such a significant moment. Secondly, the tradition of exchanging gifts and tokens of affection makes it a suitable occasion to present an engagement ring as the ultimate token of love. Lastly, celebrating an engagement on Valentine's Day adds to the memorable nature of the holiday, making it a date that couples will never forget.

While Valentine's Day has evolved significantly from its ancient origins, its essence as a celebration of love and fertility remains intact. The tradition of proposing on Valentine's Day is a testament to the enduring nature of love and the desire to unite in lifelong companionship. Whether it's through a simple handmade card, a bouquet of flowers, or a proposal of marriage, Valentine's Day continues to be a day where love is celebrated in all its forms.