The history of Valentine's Day, usually celebrated on February 14th every year, is obscure and clouded by various fanciful legends. Although no one really knows the exact origins, there are a few fitting stories to help explain why Valentine's Day is a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of love and romance around the world today, even though it is not a public holiday in any country,

How did Saint Valentine’s Day begin? Some suggest that the holiday's roots are in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, held annually on February 15th, which celebrated the coming of spring, including fertility rites and the pairing of woman with men by lottery. There may not have been much love and romance associated with the Lupercalia festival, but there was lots of alcohol, lust and sex.

By the end of the 5th century Rome had become Christian and the Catholic Church was determined to stamp out any remaining paganism. So, in 496, Pope Gelasius I abolished the pagan festival of Lupercalia and replaced it with a more sedate Christian feast day. He declared February 14th the Feast of Saint Valentine, to commemorate the death of a Christian Saint named Valentine, who came to be known as the patron saint of love. As time passed, The Feast of Saint Valentine became known simply as Valentine’s Day.

It is interesting to note that in 1969, the Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar, removing the feast days of saints whose historical origins were questionable. Saint Valentine was one of the casualties, but it hasn’t stopped us from celebrating Valentine’s Day today.

How did Saint Valentine’s Day become associated with love and romance? There were three patrons named Saint Valentine who were martyred in ancient Rome. Most scholars believe that the Saint Valentine of the holiday was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. According to legend, Claudius II had prohibited marriage for young men, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers than those with wives and children. However, Valentine continued to secretly perform marriage ceremonies until he was found out and jailed. Allegedly, while imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer, and before he was beheaded on February 14th, he sent her a letter signed "from your Valentine” – a phrase widely adopted today.

The first recorded association of Valentine with romantic love occurred more than a thousand years after the martyrs’ death. The connection began in the 14th century, when the tradition of “courtly love” flourished, when broad, romantic statements of devotion, love and admiration—poems, songs, paintings—celebrated partnership, usually in secret. In 1382, the English author Geoffery Chaucer wrote the poem Parlement of Foules, to King Richard II for the anniversary of his engagement to Anne of Bohemia in 1382. He wrote:

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make. [For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.]”

Nature-minded English and European nobility embraced Chaucer’s idea of February mating and soon began sending hand written love notes, called valentines, during February’s bird-mating season. For example, the French Duke of Orléans, while imprisoned in the Tower of London, wrote to his wife in February 1415 that he was “already sick of love” (by which he meant lovesick) and he called her his “very gentle Valentine.” Even William Shakespeare promoted the association of romantic love and valentines through his drama Hamlet when love-struck Ophelia spoke of herself as “Hamlet’s valentine”.

The tradition of Valentine’s Day cards: By the end of the 15th century, the word “valentine” was being used to describe a lover in poems and songs of the day, and lovers of all social classes began to exchange handwritten valentines. These valentines were beautiful creations handmade by the sender and individually designed. They would usually contain sentimental verse, proclaiming the beauty of the receiver and how much they were loved. They were decorated with pictures of Cupid (the Roman god of love), hearts (traditionally the seat of emotion), birds (depicting the mating season), and flowers, usually red roses (the expression of romantic love) and trimmed with lace and ribbon. These images are still used today to symbolize love and are recognized all over the world. In Britain in 1797, a clever publisher issued a book, The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, a source of verses for young men who were unable to write up something on their own on valentines. Printers began publishing these verses with sketches, known as “mechanical valentines”, and for the first time, commercially printed cards were being used.

By the 19th century, paper valentines were extremely popular, and improvements in printing technology allowed them to be mass produced in factories to keep up with demand. In the United States the first mass production of commercial valentine cards started in 1847 by Esther A. Howland.

Valentine’s Day celebrations today: Today, Valentine’s Day has become a booming commercial success. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates there are 190 million valentines sent each year, and when you include the popular tradition of trading valentines in school, that estimation jumps to 1 billion, second only to Christmas with 2.6 billion. It is also estimated that 15 million e-cards were sent in 2010. Sending only a Valentine card today also appears not to be enough for many, and the exchange quickly extended to include gifts of flowers, candy, chocolates, jewelry and more. The rest of course is history. While Valentine's Day is celebrated in most countries, different cultures have developed their own traditions. Romantic love is the most common celebration, but more frequently and sometimes traditionally, celebrations include children and other family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone or anything else you love, appreciate, or admire. Valentine’s Day is truly whatever you want it to be. Celebrate it or not. There is no right or wrong.

Here’s a look at some Valentine’s Day celebrations around the world:

Argentina One day isn't enough to celebrate Valentine's Day in Argentina, land of Tango. Argentinians take a week to celebrate the occasion. They set aside seven days in July for “sweetness week.” From the 13th to the 20th, lovers and friends will exchange candies and kisses. This week typically ends with “Friendship Day”.

Australia Valentine’s Day, celebrated February 14th, is not just considered as lover’s day. It is an occasion for everybody to enjoy their unconditional love towards anyone or anything, including their pets and animals.

Australians mark this day by giving away extravagantly designed Valentine's Day cards to their sweethearts. The tradition traces back to the gold rush in the Ballarat Mine in Victoria that occurred during the mid-19th century. Due to the surge in the status and wealth of the miners, it became a tradition for them to lavish their beloveds with extravagant cards, intricately designed and beautifully wrapped.

South Africa Like many parts of the world, South Africa celebrates Valentine's Day on February 14th with festivals, flowers and other tokens of love. It is also customary for women in South Africa to pin a heart on their sleeve containing the name of their love interest. In some cases, this is how South African men learn of their secret admirers.

Bulgaria On February 14th, San Trifon Zartan is celebrated in Bulgaria, which means “day of winemakers”. Young and old couples celebrate their love with a glass, or more, of wonderful local wine.

Brazil The local equivalent to Valentine’s Day is Dia dos Namorados, the Day of Lovers, celebrated on June 12th. The following day is Saint Anthony’s Day, the patron saint of marriage. On this day, single women perform rituals called simpatias in hopes that St. Anthony will bring them a husband. The night before, single women will write men’s names on pieces of paper then fold them up. In the morning, they pick a slip to reveal their future husbands.

Chile

Dia de San Valentin is anticipated greatly as a special occasion for couples. It’s typical to walk around the city and see decorations all around as shops, malls and streets are beautifully decorated with flowers, balloons, and heart garlands. Flowers, chocolates, love letters and jewels are typical gifts. Going out for a romantic dinner is also a tradition for couples and public concerts enhance the romantic mood throughout towns and cities across the country.

China For centuries, the Chinese festival of love, known as Qixi, is celebrated usually early in August on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on the Chinese calendar. According to Chinese lore, Zhinu, a heavenly king's daughter, and Niulang, a poor cowherd, fell in love, married and had twins. When Zhinu's father learned of their marriage, he sent his queen to bring Zhinu back to the stars. Upon hearing the cries of Niulang and the children, the king allowed Zhinu and Niulang to meet once a year on Qixi. During Qixi, young single women prepare offerings of melon and other fruits to Zhinu in hopes of finding a good husband and couples head to temples to pray for happiness and prosperity. At night, people look to the heavens to watch as stars Vega and Altair (Zhinu and Niulang, respectively) come close during the star-crossed pair's annual reunion.

In the 21st century, many Chinese now celebrate western Valentine's Day on February 14th complete with romantic gift exchanges and special dates.

Milao, Southwest China During the Sisters’ Meal Festival, celebrated on 15th March, woman cook an assortment of colorful rice dishes which are wrapped in silk and offered to serenading suitors. The fate of the relationship depends on which item is found within the rice. Two chopsticks means love, but a clove of garlic means the love is over before it has even begun.

Czech Republic Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in Anglo-Saxon cultures since the middle ages, but it is a rather new celebration in the Czech Republic. It wasn’t really known until after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Czechs have traditionally celebrated their lovers on May 1st, commonly known as International Labor Day, but also the Day of Love. Keeping with Czech superstitions, on May 1st it is believed couples should kiss under a blooming cherry tree kiss to ensure happiness and health. Many couples make a pilgrimage to the Karel Hynek Mácha statue, a Czech romantic poet and

author of the love poem Máj (May) on this day.

Denmark Celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th by exchanging cards and pressed white flowers, called snowdrops, with friends and sweethearts. Men also give women gaekkebrev, a "joking letter" consisting of a funny poem or rhyme written on intricately cut paper and signed only with anonymous dots. If a woman who receives the gaekkebrev can correctly guess the sender, she earns herself an Easter egg later that year.

Finland and Estonia On February 14th Finland and Estonia celebrate Friendship Day, rather than romantic love. The

celebration includes everyone from couples to singles, family members, friends and neighbors.

Cards and gifts are exchanged with all. It is also a popular day to get engaged in both countries.

Additionally, Estonia has an interesting tradition for single people—they can take a ride on the Love

Bus in hopes of meeting someone special.

France Paris is known as the city of love, and is a popular destination for couples on Valentine’s Day. Some

consider it to be the capital of Valentine’s Day. Couples used to attach a padlock on the Pont des

Arts “love lock bridge” and throw the key in the River Seine. The locks were removed in 2015, and

the bridge railings replaced with ones hard to attach a lock to, but lovers still attach locks to other

bridges around Paris.

Between the 12th and 14th of February, the aptly titled Village of Love (St. Valentin, France)

transforms into the epicenter of romance. Houses are decked in roses, new trees are planted to

commemorate love and mature trees are covered in love notes, numerous marriage proposals,

weddings and vow renewals occur.

Germany In Germany, Valentine’s Day is aimed toward adults only, so you won’t find any cute little heart-

shaped cards in German classrooms. Lovers will exchange not only chocolates, flowers, and heart

shaped gifts, but a special something else for this celebration: a pig! The pig represents luck and

lust, and can be given in picture form, as a miniature statue, in chocolate or however one sees fit.

Also, Germans prepare big ginger cookies in heart shapes which contain romantic phrases and

messages.

Ghana On Valentine’s Day since 2007, February 14th has also been known as National Chocolate Day to help boost

tourism to one of the world’s largest cacao producing countries from which chocolate comes. Special

chocolate themed menus, exhibitions and talks can be found all around the country.

Italy Italian couples celebrate the holiday with romantic dinners and gift-giving. A favorite treat is Baci

Perugina, a chocolate-covered hazelnut that is wrapped in foil with a message of love in four

languages. ‘Baci’ means ‘kiss’ in Italian. An old tradition is for single girls to wake up before dawn

on Valentine’s Day and the first (presumably single) man they see will be their future husband, or

at least look like him.

Israel February 14 isn’t a big deal in Israel, however, it has gained popularity and is celebrated more in Tel

Aviv and Jerusalem with a variety of parties, concerts and special romantic dinners. In Israel, there

is another ancient celebration of love and rebirth called Tu B’Av which takes place in the summer

months, this year on August 5th. This day is considered to be a great day for a wedding.

Japan In Japan, women give gifts on Valentine’s Day instead of receiving gifts. A popular gift is honmei-

choco, which is fancy, expensive and often homemade chocolate given to their sweethearts.

Coworkers and classmates are also given lesser quality chocolates, known as giri choco. Men can

choose to return the favour and become the gift givers on March 14, known as White Day, by giving

women white chocolate and other white gifts as a sign of their affection.

South Korea South Koreans celebrate love on the 14th day of every month from February through April. The gift-giving starts on February 14th, when it's up to women to woo their men with chocolates, candies and flowers. The tables turn on March 14th, a holiday known as White Day, when men not only shower their sweethearts with chocolates and flowers, but up the ante with a gift. And for those who haven’t coupled, there is a third holiday on April 14th known as Black Day. It is customary for singles to mourn their solitary status by eating dark bowls of jajangmyeon, or black bean-paste noodles on this day.

Mexico February 14 isn’t just for couples in Mexico, where it is known as the Day of Love and Friendship, or

El Día del Amor y la Amistad. Balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and cards show appreciation for

romantic interests, family members and platonic friends alike.

Peru Instead of roses, Peruvians typically exchange orchids, which are native to Peru, on Valentine’s Day.

Philippines While Valentine's Day celebrations in the Philippines are similar to celebrations in Western countries, one tradition has swept the country and led to thousands of couples sharing a wedding day on February 14th. Mass weddings where hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of couples gather at malls or other public areas around the country to get married or renew their vows in masse. These huge events are sponsored by the government as a form of public service and are usually officiated by the Mayor of the city free of charge. The city also pays for food for a certain number of guests per couple, flowers, wedding cakes, and gifts for the soon-to-be newly-weds. All couples are asked to register and submit the required documents a few days before Valentine's Day. Most participants who register for these mass weddings are couples who have been living together unmarried, with or without kids, and cannot afford to pay for their own wedding. Foreigners and couples who are not yet living together are also welcome to participate in this event. In 2013, 4,000 couples tied the knot in the same ceremony!

Romania Dragobete, also known as the day the birds are betrothed, is celebrated on February 24th as the day when young couples get engaged. It is basically a mix of Valentine’s Day and the celebrated of

spring season. Young men and women go to the forests to pick colorful flowers, while other couples wash their faces with snow to bring health and happiness.

Russia День Свято́го Валенти́на (St. Valentine's Day) came to Russia in early 1990’s. Although it is not

observed as a public holiday it is widely celebrated and remains one of the most popular romantic

holidays in Russia. Giving flowers to acknowledge special occasions and holidays is considered one

of the most romantic gestures in Russian culture. Red roses are a symbol of passionate love and

romance – they are the most popular flowers on St. Valentine's Day.

Russia introduced its own alternative to St. Valentine’s Day in 2008 called The Day of Family, Love and

Faithfulness, or the Day of Saints Peter and Favonian, celebrated on July 8th. They were a husband and wife

who lived in the 13th century, died on the same day, and were canonized in the 16th century. Once The Day

of Family, Love and Faithfulness was introduced, Russians were informed that Valentine’s Day is a

holiday commemorating foreign values and they should not be celebrating it. In a way, now

February 14th became the day of lovers, while July 8th is the day of married people.

Slovenia In Slovenia, February 14 is considered a prime day for working in the fields as St. Valentine is the

patron saint of spring, and the plants are starting to grow. Tradition says birds of the fields

“marry” on February 14, but anyone who wants to watch needs to walk barefoot through the

fields, where the ground is usually still frozen. But love isn’t lost—St. Gregory’s Day on March 12th

is when Slovenians couples typically celebrate romantic love.

Spain

For Valencians the most romantic day of the year falls on October 9th, the Day of Saint Dionysus, the patron saint of love. To mark the festive occasion, many festivals and parades are held and, traditionally, men offer their partner a macadora, a marzipan figurine, as a token of their love.

Taiwan

Love is celebrated twice a year in Taiwan: February 14th and July 7th. Here the men are expected to give bouquets of flowers to their beloved one. According to Taiwanese tradition, the color and number of flowers will represent an important message….red roses will represent “an only love”, ninety-nine roses will express “love forever”, and 108 roses signifies popping “The question”…”Will you marry me?”

United Kingdom The United Kingdom started the tradition of giving roses on Valentine’s Day. The flower is traditionally seen as the favorite of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. In a tradition dating back to the Victorian era, anonymous valentines are sent to romantic interest because signing their name to the card was considered bad luck.

England

On the eve on Valentine's Day, women in England used to place five bay leaves on their pillows -- one at each corner and one in the center -- to bring dreams of their future husbands. Alternatively, they would wet bay leaves with rosewater and place them across their pillows.

In Norfolk, Jack Valentine acts as a Santa of sorts for Valentine's Day. Children anxiously wait to hear Jack Valentine knock at their doors, and although they don't catch a glimpse of Old Father Valentine, children enjoy the candies and small gifts left on their porches.

Wales The Welsh celebrate love on January 25, Saint Dwynwen’s Day, the patron saint of lovers. As early

as the 17th century, Welsh sailors carved designs into wooden spoons while at sea to bring back to

their lovers at home. Patterns and symbols were carved into these love spoons, each signifying a

different meaning. Horseshoes for good luck; wheels for support; and keys to a man's heart. Today,

men traditionally gift woman these hand-carved wooden spoons, known as love spoons, as a token

of their love. Love spoons are also exchanged for celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries and

births.