Every year, people all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day; giving loved ones cards, candies, and flowers. Many people don’t actually know the meaning and history behind St. Valentine’s Day. There are three different saints named Valentine, so there are three stories that could be the reason behind Valentine’s Day.

The first story states that Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century, who would marry couples in secret. It had to be in secret because the Emperor banned marriage for young men to make for better soldiers. He was eventually found out and put to death for his defiance.

The second Valentine was thought to help Christians escape from prisons because of their mistreatment in Rome, but he too was sentenced to death when discovered.

The last Valentine story started in jail when Valentine himself was imprisoned. He had fallen in love with the jailor’s daughter while he was there. The day he was to be killed he sent his love a note and signed it “From your Valentine.”

Although the stories are very different, they all show heroism and two of the three have romantic themes. Because of this, St. Valentine became one of the most well-known figures in England, which is how Valentine’s Day was started.

Article by Maddie Taylor