What does it mean romanticizing something?

To pretty something up – make it sound better than it is.

I think people romanticize the 1920’s. They talk about the fun of the speakeasy’s, flappers, women smoking and drinking, when in reality, most of America was starving and couldn’t find jobs.

Think of how vile and awful the South was in the Civil War, and yet it has been romanticized into a noble cause.
Currently there is an attempt to romanticize Jan 6.

Ohhh! Good point Filmfann!