This podcast episode explores the history of Saint Valentine, debunking the common association of the saint with romantic love. The episode traces the evolution of Saint Valentine's hagiography, highlighting discrepancies in historical accounts and showcasing how Renaissance artists used the saint's image, and others, to depict their lovers in religious art. It details how the connection between Saint Valentine and romantic love emerged centuries after his death, primarily through Geoffrey Chaucer's poem and subsequent literary works. The episode also examines the pagan origins of Valentine's Day traditions, such as the heart symbol and chocolate, contrasting them with the saint's actual story. Ultimately, the episode reveals that modern Valentine's Day celebrations are largely detached from the historical Saint Valentine, instead drawing from various pagan and later cultural influences.
