Each year on February fourteenth, many people exchange cards , candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine”. The day of romance we call Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the fifth century, but has origins in the Roman holiday Lupercalia. The history of Valentine’s day – and the story of its patron saint – is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentinus was a priest who served during the third century of Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers with those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, 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. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Valentine’s greetings have been popular since the middle ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t appear until the 1400’s. American’s probably began exchanging hand-made valentine’s in the early 1700’s. An esitmated one billion valentine cards are sent each year. Making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year.