DO YOU KNOW who St. Valentine is and why we celebrate romance?

Every February, candy, flowers, romantic dinners, and heart-warming gifts are shared between lovers, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious Saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history and St. Valentine himself, is clouded with intrigue. February has long been the month of romance and contains bits and pieces of Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men - his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

While Valentine awaited his death sentence, he may actually have sent the first "Valentine" greeting himself. It is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who may have been his jailer's daughter - who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

The truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.