Valentine's Day originates from the historical figure of Rome known as Saint Valentine.
There are many inconsistencies in the history of St. Valentine, so much so that the Roman Catholic Church removed him from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. Despite this, St. Valentine is still listed as a patron saint of love, young people and happy marriages.
One legend goes about Valentine's dedication to Christianity. St. Valentine would spread the word of his faith across the Roman empire and occasionally met a roadblock. One of these roadblocks was Emperor Claudius Gothicus who supposedly made Valentine a martyr in 269, on Feb. 14. Many other years are almost believed to be the year he was killed.
Before his death, it is said that he left a note to a girl that was signed: Your Valentine. The legends have survived to this point, which is why it is still widely known, but it is not clear on when the holiday actually started. A belief from the Middle Ages was that the birds found their mates in the middle of February and thus making it a romantic time period.
No matter if the legends are true or not, Feb. 14 every year marks a day of love and candies across the nation.
