Where did Valentines come from?

Valentine’s Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century. The exact origins are debated, but the most common belief is that it honors a priest named Valentine who was executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II on February 14, around 269 AD.

One legend suggests that Saint Valentine defied the emperor’s ban on marriages for young soldiers by secretly performing weddings. Another story claims he was imprisoned for helping persecuted Christians and sent a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter signed "from your Valentine," which could have inspired the tradition of love notes.

The association with romantic love grew in the Middle Ages, partly due to the idea that birds began mating in mid-February. By the 14th and 15th centuries, Valentine’s Day became linked to courtly love, and over time, it evolved into the holiday we celebrate today.