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Valentine's Day February 14th
Valentine’s Day, celebrated each year on February 14, has a history that blends ancient ritual, Christian legend, and years of changing romantic tradition. The earliest link is to Lupercalia, a Roman festival held in mid-February that celebrated fertility and the coming of spring. The festival included rites and rituals to ward off evil spirits and encourage health and reproduction. Romantic?….maybe.
The day later became associated with St. Valentine, though history records more than one early Christian martyr by that name. The most popular legend tells of a priest who secretly performed marriages for young couples after Emperor Claudius II banned them, believing single men made better soldiers. Valentine was executed for defying the order, supposedly on February 14. According to lore, he signed a farewell note to a jailer’s daughter “from your Valentine,” a phrase that still echoes today.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day took on a distinctly romantic meaning in Europe. Writers like Geoffrey Chaucer helped popularize the idea that February 14 was the day birds chose their mates, reinforcing the romance connection.
Today's celebration emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, when people began exchanging handwritten notes, poems, and eventually printed cards. Advances in printing made valentines widely accessible, and the holiday steadily grew into a global celebration of romance and connection.
Valentine’s Day blends its layered past with modern customs—flowers, chocolates, cards, and heartfelt gestures—making it a holiday where ancient history and contemporary love meet.
Family Day February 16th
Family Day is a relatively recent statutory holiday in BC, coming about as a result of a mix official priorities, political timing, and inter-provincial influence. It first appeared in Ontario, the concept was simple and appealing, a break between New Year’s Day and Easter to support family time, mental health, and work–life balance. Other provinces began to consider similar holidays, though not all adopted the same name or date.
In BC, Family Day was officially created in 2013 by the provincial government under Premier Christy Clark. The move was framed as a way to strengthen families, boost community well-being, and align BC more closely with other provinces that already recognized a February holiday. It also carried economic motivations, as long weekends tend to support local tourism and retail during an otherwise quiet season.
BC Family Day was initially set it on the second Monday of February. This led to confusion for national businesses and families with ties across provincial borders as all other provinces had aligned with Ontario with the third Monday. In response, BC shifted Family Day in 2019 to the third Monday in February.
Today, Family Day in British Columbia is less about a single tradition and more about intention: a pause in winter to reconnect with family, chosen family, and community. It reflects changing views on work, wellness, and the value of shared time, making it a holiday shaped very much by contemporary life.
February is a month of change. We notice a change in light as the days become noticeably longer. We notice the beginning of fresh bloom, at least here in BC West Coast. While the weather may still be unpredictable, we notice our thoughts are more of Spring than Winter.
We celebrate two holiday events in February, Valentine's day steeped in ancient tradition and Family Day, a response to changing views in contemporary life.
If you have plans or an event for either day, we at Greenrock can help. Our large selection covers every choice. Or if you are coming off Dry January, we can help you celebrate your success. Happy February!
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