The precise origins of Valentine’s Day are unclear, as it may be named after multiple early Christian martyrs who shared the name Valentine.

One legend claims a Saint Valentine defied a Roman emperor’s ban on marriage for soldiers by secretly performing wedding ceremonies for couples. But it’s very likely this story is false.

The holiday’s roots can be traced partly to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February. This festival involved fertility rituals, not romance as we understand it today.

February 14th was chosen by the Church to Christianize pagan traditions. Rather than eliminate popular festivals, the Church often rebranded them, as seen with Christmas and Easter.

Valentine’s Day became associated with romance during the Middle Ages, largely through poets like Geoffrey Chaucer, who linked the day with love and courtship. Chaucer helped popularize this romantic notion by writing that birds chose their mates on February 14th.

The first recorded Valentine’s poem was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans, while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London during the Hundred Years’ War.

Medieval Valentines were handwritten poems, there were no cards, only carefully crafted verses.

The earliest Valentine’s cards were exchanged in the 1700s, as advances in printing technology made them more accessible.

Esther Howland popularized mass-produced Valentine’s cards in the United States during the 1840s, turning them into a thriving business.

Hearts were not always symbols of love. The ancient Greeks, for example, believed the heart (not the brain) was the center of human emotion.

Cupid is based on the Roman god Eros, who was originally depicted as a handsome youth rather than a chubby baby.

Red roses are linked to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, with the color red symbolizing deep passion.

Different flowers carry distinct meanings on Valentine’s Day: tulips represent perfect love, while carnations signify fascination.

Chocolate became a Valentine’s staple in the 19th century after Victorians promoted its supposed health benefits.

Heart-shaped candy boxes were invented in 1861 and were designed to be kept as mementos.

The color pink only became associated with romance in the 20th century.

Love knots, which symbolize eternal love in Celtic traditions, predate many modern Valentine symbols.

Love letters were once more common than Valentine’s cards, especially during wartime separations.

Perfume is a popular Valentine’s gift because scent powerfully triggers memory and is closely tied to emotion and attraction.

In Japan, women give chocolate to men on Valentine’s Day. Men return the favor a month later on “White Day,” with gifts of greater value.

South Korea celebrates love on the 14th of every month, each with a different romantic theme.

In Finland, Valentine’s Day is known as “Friend’s Day” and focuses on friendship.

In Wales, lovers exchange intricately carved wooden spoons, a tradition dating back centuries.

In Italy, Valentine’s Day was once considered an ideal day for engagements and marriage proposals.

In Brazil, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in June to avoid conflict with February’s Carnival festivities.

In Denmark, people exchange pressed white flowers known as “snowdrops.”

In South Africa, some women literally wear their crush’s name on their sleeve.

In the Philippines, mass weddings (often government-sponsored) are common on Valentine’s Day.

In France, Valentine’s Day was once associated with matchmaking lotteries, some of which grew so chaotic they were eventually banned.

Romantic love triggers the same brain response as addiction, causing spikes in dopamine during periods of attraction.

Heartbreak activates the brain’s physical pain centers, meaning emotional pain is neurologically real.

Valentine’s Day does not exist or is banned in many Islamic countries.

Single women now often celebrate “Galentine’s Day,” a modern tradition focusing on friendship.

“XOXO” dates back to medieval times; the “X” symbolized a kiss given under oath.