Flowers, cards, candies, and boxes of chocolate! This arrangement of items could only be indicating one holiday… Valentine’s Day! This holiday is celebrated in America and in many places across the globe. Couples will exchange gifts and show one another extra love; some people will ask a special person they admire to be theirs. This day has a veil of mystery to it regarding why people celebrate and where these customs originate from.

The customs of this holiday may have come from a Roman festival known as Lupercalia. This festival celebrated the coming of spring and was held in mid-February and was conducted annually on the 15th of the month. The festival included pairing off women and men via lottery, a sacrifice, and represented fertility from the new season approaching. This is only one explanation though, as February 14th was not celebrated as a day of romance until the later 14th century.

A better explanation can trace its roots to Christianity, more specifically Catholicism. There are a few martyrs the Catholic church has taken note of named “Valentine,” however it is best speculated to be about a priest who was killed in about 270 CE. Under the rule of emperor Claudius II Gothicus, persecution of Christians was common. The legend states that it was from a priest who signed “from your Valentine” on a letter to a prisoner he befriended. Other ideas include the day honoring all saints named Valentine.

Valentines started appearing in the 1500s, and commercially produced cards were beginning to be manufactured in the 1700s. Cupid is often depicted on gifts and cards, because cupid is an ancient roman idol of love.

Whether you have a special someone you would like to show some extra appreciation for on the day, or you just like candy, Valentine’s Day is a day celebrated across the world. The day is associated with romance, and millions of couples celebrate it.