Every February 14, across the United States, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from?

The history of Valentine's Day--and the story of its patron saint--has always been a mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day contains old traditions of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this holiday?

One legend says that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than 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. According to another legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is said that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. These stories emphasize St. Valentine's appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and romantic figure. While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "Christianize" the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity and but was outlawed at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

While Valentine's Day is known as a big card holiday, it is also seen as a big holiday for the chocolate, jewelry, and floral industries. Who hasn't heard to the standard chocolates and roses as a Valentine's gift? With Valentine's Day coming on fast, it is a wise decision to get your flowers ordered sooner rather than later. Find your local florist and give them a call! They can make you the traditional dozen roses or create something unique for your loved one!

Information courtesy of http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day