Saint Valentine's Key is a metal key

charm Charm or Charms may refer to: Arts and entertainment * The Charms, an American garage rock band * Otis Williams and the Charms, an American doo-wop group * The Charm (Bubba Sparxxx album), ''The Charm'' (Bubba Sparxxx album), 2006 * Charm (Danny! ...

named after

Saint Valentine Saint Valentine (; ) was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14 and in Eastern Orthodoxy on July 6. From the High Middle Ages, his feast day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love. He is al ...

, the patron saint of love and marriage '' inter alia''. The charm is used in the province of Padua, Italy, where it is believed to offer a cure for

epilepsy Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activit ...

, a condition traditionally known as "Saint Valentine's Malady." In addition to its curative properties, the key is also gifted as a romantic symbol, an invitation to "unlock the giver's heart."

History

The use of Saint Valentine's Key as a charm to ward off epilepsy and other

seizure A seizure is a sudden, brief disruption of brain activity caused by abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal firing. Depending on the regions of the brain involved, seizures can lead to changes in movement, sensation, behavior, awareness, o ...

disorders dates back to the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

. In

northern Italy Northern Italy (, , ) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. The Italian National Institute of Statistics defines the region as encompassing the four Northwest Italy, northwestern Regions of Italy, regions of Piedmo ...

, epilepsy was once commonly referred to as "Saint Valentine's Malady", and Saint Valentine's

icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic Church, Catholic, and Lutheranism, Lutheran churches. The most common subjects include Jesus, Mary, mother of ...

and other holy items were invoked for healing. In Padua, Saint Valentine's Key was particularly popular among those seeking a cure for epilepsy. The key was also common in

southern Germany Southern Germany (, ) is a region of Germany that includes the areas in which Upper German dialects are spoken, which includes the stem duchies of Bavaria and Swabia in present-day Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and the southern portion of Hesse ...

eastern Switzerland Eastern Switzerland (, , , ) is the common name of the region situated to the east of Glarus Alps, with the cantons of Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and Glarus. The north of canton of Graubün ...

, and

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

, where Saint Valentine was also appealed to for healing.

In Italy

A special ceremony is held on Saint Valentine's Day each year at the St. George's Oratory,

Padua Padua ( ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Veneto, northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Padua. The city lies on the banks of the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice and southeast of Vicenza, and has a population of 20 ...

. The ceremony involves the gifting of small golden Saint Valentine's Keys to children, which are believed to ward off epilepsy. The tradition has been observed for centuries and is still celebrated today. The keys are a cherished part of Paduan culture and are considered a symbol of love and protection.

Symbolism

In addition to its healing properties, Saint Valentine's Key is also gifted as a symbol of love and affection. The charm is often given to a romantic partner as an invitation to "unlock the giver's heart." The key is also associated with marriage and is sometimes given as a wedding gift.

Popular culture

Saint Valentine's Key has been featured in popular culture, including in literature and film. In the novel "

The Enchanted April ''The Enchanted April'' is a 1922 novel by British writer Elizabeth von Arnim. The work was inspired by a month-long holiday to the Italian Riviera, and was probably the most widely read of her novels (as an English and American best seller in ...

" by

Elizabeth von Arnim Elizabeth von Arnim (31 August 1866 – 9 February 1941), born Mary Annette Beauchamp, was an English novelist. Born in Australia, she married a German aristocrat, and her earliest works are set in Germany. Her first marriage made her Countess v ...

, a character gives a Saint Valentine's Key to her husband as a symbol of her renewed love for him. The charm was also prominently featured in the 2010 film '' Letters to Juliet'', where a character gifts a Saint Valentine's Key to her granddaughter as a symbol of hope and love.

References

{{Reflist Culture of Europe Valentine Amulets Talismans