The Valentine's Day history is murky, and is further mystified by various fanciful legends. The Valentine’s Day has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility festival which is celebrated annually on February 15. However, Pope Gelasius I remodeled this pagan festival as a Christian feast day circa 496, to honor St. Valentine declaring February 14 to be St. Valentine's Day. Which St. Valentine this early pope intended to honor remains unknown.
Most of the sources believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday was a priest who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity and disfavoured emperor Claudius II around 270. He was martyred on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been dedicated to love lotteries.
He was buried on the Via Flaminia. According to one myth, Claudius II had barred marriage for young men, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers. But St. Valentine of Rome, continued to secretly execute marriage ceremonies but eventually caught the notice of the Romans and was martyred. Another legend says that Valentine, incarcerated by Claudius, fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he was put to death, he allegedly sent her a letter signed “from your Valentine”. Although the truth behind all this Valentine's Day history is misty, but these myths certainly emphasize that St. Valentine was a compassionate, heroic, and, most importantly, a romantic figure.
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