There are various theories as to the origins of St. Valentine's day, but they all have one thing in common: all of the men to whom the holiday is associated with are martyrs of the Catholic/Christian church. Be it Valentine of Rome or Valentine of Termi (some scholars believe that both of them are, in fact, the same person) or any of the other men associated with the date, it is clear that they were selfless and died because of it.

The holiday is also associated to the February feritility festivals held between mid-January and mid-February in the Graeco-Roman era.

In this day and age, St. Valentine's day has taken a purely commercial slant. The holiday is celebrated all over the world with many variations, yet the exchange of gifts, sweets and greeting cards is part of all regional traditions. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide.