The Origin of Valentine's Day

Many folks think florists and card companies invented Valentine’s Day. Well, here is the scoop on the day of love.

There are many legends on the origin of Valentine’s Day, from saints to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. The most popular one goes all the way back to 270 A.D., when Bishop Valentine performed secret marriage ceremonies. When the Roman Emperor Claudius II discovered this, he sentenced the Bishop to death. While in prison Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter and before he was executed on February 14, sent her a note signed, “From Your Valentine.”

Handwritten Valentine’s Day cards have been found dating back to 1415; it became more common and popular in the 17th century. In the 1900s printed cards began to replace handwritten notes. Today, 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making it second only to Christmas cards.