(Also known as St. Valentine's Day)

Symbols: hearts, cupid, flowers, chocolate, and doves/ U.S. holiday

colors: red & pink

Valentine's Day is a Christian Festival commemorating the martyrdom of St. Valentine on February 14, 270.

St. Valentine was a third century priest. He performed secret marriages because the Roman emporor thought more single men would enlist in the army than married men.

The first Valentine's Day was February 14, 469 A.D. By the 14th century its religious significance was overshadowed by nonreligious customs still associated with the day.

The most plausible belief is the medieval European belief that birds begin to mate on February 14th. This suggested that lads and lasses should choose lovers and exchange gifts on February 14th.

After postal systems were established homade messages- called valentines- became common. Usually verse and tender in nature, sometimes comic or coarse.

After World War I the greeting card business became very successful.

That is how Valentine's Day came to the U.S.