Fortson's Ultimate Guide To: Valentine's Day:

Valentine's Day, a festival of romance, love, and affection, is celebrated annually on February 14th; however, the holiday's origins are far less romantic than the modern iteration suggests. Its history is a complex tapestry woven from disparate threads of ancient Roman festivals, early Christian martyrdom, and medieval literary tradition. The journey of February 14th from a pagan fertility rite to a global commercial phenomenon is a fascinating narrative spanning millennia and continents. ...