Love, actually

This Valentine's Day, we get back to the basics with a crash course on the origins of love, topped with a few nuggets that will rekindle the essence of love. Trust us on this!

Flowers. Check. Candlelit dinner. Check. Tickets to a rom com. Check. Celebrating Valentine's Day would be incomplete without doing some or all of the above.



Since its early origins, celebrations on this day of love has crossed borders. We decided to look back through history's pages to know how it all began and how the term 'love' was coined.

Stand the test of time
It's fitting that the universal emotion has been expressed in many words in various languages across the world. The word "love" is believed to have been coined 5,000 years ago and is an amalgamation of several cultures. Etymologically, it is considered to be a proto Indo-European word that is derived from the old English word 'lufu' of Germanic origin, which is based on the Sanskrit term 'lubhyati' (desires) and the Latin 'libido' (desire).


Remember St Valentine?
The legend of Saint Valentine, the patron saint of love, says that he was a Roman priest who was arrested for marrying Christian couples during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor was notorious for persecuting Christians in 270 AD. When the priest tried to convert the Emperor, he was sentenced to death. While in prison, Valentine is believed to have befriended the blind daughter of the jailer and even restored her eyesight. On the eve of his execution, he left a note for the girl, which was signed, "Your Valentine" and thus it became the first token of Valentine. Centuries have gone by, yet the stories still prevail attesting to the power of love. The earliest tokens of Valentine were recorded in the Diary of Samuel Pepys in 1667 where he mentions a Valentine note on blue paper with gilt letters. This V-Day, we suggest you go back to the essence of the celebrations and send a letter to your loved ones.

Did you know?
In the Middle Ages, young men and women held a lottery to find their Valentine. In 1537, England's King Henry VII declared February 14 as Saint Valentine's Day. Verona, where Romeo and Juliet lived, receivesu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every V-Day.

The love quiz
Hiten Tejwani, actor
Where did the word "love" originate?
Italy, as it is associated with romance.



Which was the first token of love?
Roses leading to the age-old tradition of expressing love by offering a bouquet of flowers.

Udita Goswami, actress
Where did the word "love" originate?
Paris



Which was the first token of love?
Flowers.

Harshad karmalkar, entrepreneur
Where did the word "love" originate?
India, from the Sanskrit language.



What was the first token of love?
A bouquet of roses.