What was the significance of February 14th during the Middle Ages in France and England?
In the Middle Ages, February 14th held significance in France and England due to the celebration of Valentine's Day, albeit in different ways.
1. France: In France, February 14th marked the beginning of the bird mating season, particularly for lovebirds. It was believed that birds chose their partners on this day, leading to the idea of romantic love. Alongside this belief, a popular tradition called "loterie d'amour" took place on Valentine's Day, where single men and women would gather in houses facing each other, and take turns calling out to one another, eventually pairing up. If the men weren't satisfied with their match, they could simply abandon the woman, and if a woman remained unmarried, she would be mocked and ridiculed throughout the town.
2. England: In 14th-century England, Valentine's Day began to be associated with romance and courtly love. Geoffrey Chaucer's poem "Parlement of Foules" written in 1382, introduced the idea of linking February 14th with love and affection. Chaucer depicted birds coming together to choose their mates and described it as a day when people expressed their love and exchanged romantic messages. This inspired the tradition of sending love letters or "valentines" to one's beloved on this day, a practice that continues to this day.
Overall, both France and England during the Middle Ages celebrated February 14th as a day of romance, whether through the bird-focused customs in France or the emergence of courtly love and valentine exchanges in England.