February 14th is right around the corner, and stores are filled with Valentine’s Day chocolate, gifts, and decorations, but how did this holiday begin? Here’s a look at the ancient Roman history of this cherished holiday.

First of all, there are actually several early Christian martyrs with the name Valentine, however, the most popular story behind Saint Valentine is that of Saint Valentine of Rome. Then Roman emperor Claudius II wanted young, single men to enlist in the military and outlawed marriage for young men. As a priest, Valentine defied his orders and continued to perform secret weddings, leading to his arrest and execution on February 14th around 270 A.D. The story goes that he fell in love with his jailer’s blind daughter, and wrote her a letter signed with “from your Valentine.” In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius I named February 14th St. Valentine’s Day, created to honor the saint and overshadow the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated love, marriage, and fertility.

In the Middle Ages, St. Valentine’s Day began to have a more explicit connection to romance, as February was the beginning of birds’ mating season, about which English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the poem Parliament of Fowls. In the poem, he mentions “Seynt Valentyne’s day” and links February 14th with love and courtship for the first time. From then on, Valentine’s Day became popularized as a day for expressing affection in England in France in particular. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it spread worldwide, and technological advances allowed people to print, send, and eventually mass-produce Valentine’s Day cards, flowers, chocolates, and jewelry.

Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a day of love for romantic partners, friends, and family around the world. Although it has certainly evolved from its origins in Christian and ancient Roman history, the message of love remains the same. Whether you’re sending a card, planning a romantic dinner, or simply enjoying time with loved ones, we hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day this year!