The forgotten origins and spiritual symbolism behind Valentine’s most iconic images

Valentine’s Day is one of the most symbol-rich holidays on the modern calendar.

Hearts, doves, arrows, roses, rings, and handwritten cards appear everywhere and are instantly recognizable.

But most of these symbols are far older than Valentine’s Day itself.

Many originate in ancient Roman and Greek religion, early Christian theology, medieval courtly traditions, and long-standing spiritual beliefs about the nature of love, devotion, and the human heart.

When viewed together, Valentine’s imagery tells a much deeper story than modern romance alone.

These symbols reflect love as a binding force, a spiritual vow, and a transformative power that has always carried risk as well as beauty.

What You’ll Learn in This Post:

• Where common Valentine’s Day symbols like hearts, doves, roses, and arrows actually come from
• How ancient Roman, Greek, and Christian traditions shaped modern Valentine imagery
• Why the heart has long been viewed as a spiritual and moral center, not just a romantic one
• The deeper meaning behind Cupid’s arrow and love as a transformative force
• How symbols like rings, ribbons, and written cards reflect vows, devotion, and intention
• Why Valentine’s colors and treats symbolize life force, pleasure, and vitality
• How to read Valentine’s Day symbols as a form of sacred, symbolic language

1. The Heart: The Seat of the Soul

So let’s start with the big one: The heart.

Believe it or not, the heart symbol actually didn’t begin as a romantic icon.

In ancient Egypt, the heart (ib) was believed to house memory, conscience, and moral character.

During the afterlife judgment, it was weighed against the feather of Ma’at to determine whether a soul had lived truthfully (Budge).

In classical philosophy and early medicine, the heart was understood as the center of vitality and emotional life.

In medieval Christianity, the heart became a devotional symbol. It was the inner place where divine love was experienced and expressed, later formalized in the imagery of the Sacred Heart (McDonnell).

The familiar heart shape isn’t anatomical. It likely may have evolved from symbolic, botanical, and geometric forms, representing inner truth rather than physical accuracy.

Symbolic meaning:
Devotion, moral truth, emotional courage, spiritual alignment

2. Doves: Sacred Union and Faithful Love

Doves have symbolized love for thousands of years.

In Roman religion, doves were sacred to Venus, goddess of love and fertility, and were associated with harmony, partnership, and sensual beauty (Ovid, Metamorphoses).

Because doves often mate for life, they became natural emblems of fidelity.

In Christian symbolism, the dove came to represent the Holy Spirit, peace, and divine presence, blending sacred love with spiritual purity (Ferguson).

Over time, these meanings merged. It transformed the dove into a symbol of enduring, sanctified union rather than fleeting passion.

Symbolic meaning:
Peace, fidelity, sacred partnership, harmony

Go deeper: Who Is Venus (Aphrodite)? The Goddess of Love, Beauty, and the Wild Power of Desire

3. Cupid’s Arrow: Love That Strikes Without Warning

Cupid originates mostly from Eros, the ancient Greek god of desire.

In early mythology, Eros wasn’t a playful child. He was a primordial force capable of disrupting order and compelling creation itself (Hesiod, Theogony).

Arrows symbolized love’s suddenness and inevitability. To be struck by love was to lose control…emotionally, rationally, and sometimes even socially.

Roman writers later softened this image, transforming Eros into Cupid, but the core meaning remained. Love isn’t entirely chosen. It’s something that also happens to us (Plato).

Symbolic meaning:
Fate, attraction, emotional awakening, transformation

4. Roses: Beauty, Blood, and Devotion

Roses were sacred long before Valentine’s Day bouquets.

In Roman tradition, roses were associated with Venus and represented sensual beauty and life force.

Their thorns symbolized the pain and vulnerability that may accompany devotion (Ovid, Fasti).

In Christian symbolism, the rose came to represent martyrdom, divine love, and the Virgin Mary. It was all about beauty bound to sacrifice (Ferguson).

The red rose, in particular, often reflects love as something lived and risked, not merely admired.

Symbolic meaning:
Desire, sacrifice, devotion, sacred beauty

Learn more: 7 Symbols of Venus (Aphrodite) and Their Spiritual Meaning

5. Rings: The Symbol of Eternal Bond

The circular shape of a ring has long symbolized eternity and wholeness.

In ancient Rome, rings were exchanged as legal and social contracts. They bound agreements rather than romantic gestures.

Over time, this practice evolved into engagement and marriage traditions, emphasizing commitment over emotion (Johnston).

On Valentine’s Day, rings quietly echo the holiday’s deeper origins in vows and spiritual promises.

Symbolic meaning:
Unity, eternity, devotion, sacred contract

6. Ribbons, Lace, and Knots: Binding the Heart

Decorative knots and bindings have ancient magical and symbolic roots.

In European folk traditions, knot magic was used to bind intentions, protect relationships, or secure fidelity.

To tie something was to fix it energetically and spiritually (Hutton).

Ribbons and lace preserve this symbolism. They may visually represent connection, intention, and emotional bond.

Symbolic meaning:
Connection, intention, energetic binding

7. Love Letters and Cards: The Written Heart

Valentine cards trace their lineage to medieval courtly love, where devotion was expressed through poetry, letters, and symbolic language (de Rougemont).

Writing one’s feelings was considered an act of vulnerability and honor.

The phrase “From your Valentine” reflects this tradition of offering the heart through words.

Even today, written expressions of love carry an intimacy digital gestures rarely match.

Symbolic meaning:
Emotional honesty, devotion, vulnerability

Explore the hidden beginnings of Valentine’s Day: Who Was St. Valentine? The True Origins of Love’s Most Mysterious Saint

8. Chocolate and Sweet Treats: Pleasure and Vitality

Chocolate has long been associated with desire and vitality.

In Mesoamerican cultures, cacao was sacred. It was linked to the heart, life force, and divine nourishment (Coe & Coe).

In Europe, chocolate was later considered an aphrodisiac and stimulant.

Sweet foods symbolized pleasure, abundance, and reward. They were reminders that love isn’t only sacrificial, but also sensory and life-affirming.

Symbolic meaning:
Pleasure, vitality, nourishment, joy

9. The Colors Red and Pink: Life Force and Tenderness

Red has universally symbolized blood, passion, and chi across cultures. Pink, a gentler variation, emerged later to layer on affection and emotional warmth.

Together, these colors reflect love’s dual nature. Fierce and tender, intense and compassionate (Cirlot).

Symbolic meaning:
Vitality, warmth, emotional connection

Why These Symbols May Still Matter

Valentine’s Day symbols persist in part because they carry cultural memory.

Even when commercialized, they echo ancient understandings of love as:

• A force that binds and transforms
• A vow that requires courage
• A spiritual act, not just a feeling

Symbols may endure because they speak where language fails.

Reading Valentine’s Day Like a Sacred Text

Valentine’s Day imagery isn’t accidental decoration.

It’s a symbolic language shaped by thousands of years of ritual, belief, devotion, and longing.

So, when you see hearts, doves, arrows, roses, and rings, you’re also seeing fragments of ancient wisdom. Reminders that love has always been considered powerful, risky, sacred, and worth honoring.

References

Budge, E. A. Wallis. Egyptian Religion. London: British Museum Press.

Cirlot, J. E. A Dictionary of Symbols. Routledge.

Coe, S. D., & Coe, M. D. The True History of Chocolate. Thames & Hudson.

de Rougemont, Denis. Love in the Western World. Princeton University Press.

Ferguson, George. Signs and Symbols in Christian Art. Oxford University Press.

Hesiod. Theogony. Trans. M. L. West. Oxford University Press.

Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon. Oxford University Press.

Johnston, Sarah Iles. Ancient Religions. Harvard University Press.

McDonnell, Kilian. The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Paulist Press.

Ovid. Fasti; Metamorphoses. Penguin Classics.

Plato. Symposium. Trans. Benjamin Jowett.

Disclaimer
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It explores historical, cultural, and symbolic interpretations of Valentine’s Day traditions and does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Spiritual meanings and cultural interpretations vary widely across belief systems. Readers are encouraged to use personal discernment and consult qualified professionals for health, mental-wellbeing, or personal guidance concerns.