Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day used to be a church holiday, but has changed much over the years.  The saints (there were two of them that are celebrated on February 14th), Valentine of Roma and Valentine of Terni, lived during Roman times and were martyred (put to death for their Christian faith).

Many people say that Valentine's Day is linked to the old Pagan festival of Lupercalia, but there is no evidence that they have anything to do with each other.  Valentines as it is celebrated now came into fashion in the 1400s, when Chaucer wrote about courtly love, and gifts were given of flowers or candy.  Valentine's Day is mentioned in Shakespeare's Hamlet by the character Ophelia.  

 In the 1800s elaborate greeting cards, often made of lace and gold paper, with hearts and cupids and flowers, were exchanged. The cheap postage of the time allowed the tradition of anonymous valentine cards to become popular, with sentimental verses dedicated to a loved one.