The origin surrounding Valentines Day was based on the Roman holiday known as Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February fifteenth. It was in honor of the Gods Lupercus (the god of shepherds) and Faunus, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god, Pan, as well as the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. It was a fertility festival.
In 270 AD, Rome was facing a civil uprising. Men did not flock to Claudius 11. He thought the reason might be that they did not want to leave their wives and lovers.
He then canceled all marriages and engagements. Two priests, Valentine and Marius (marry us? Interesting coincidence) refused and continued to perform marriage ceremonies. Valentine was caught on February fourteenth. He was dragged to jail and later that day was executed and beheaded.
It is said that while he was in jail for those few hours, he met and fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. He wrote her a letter declaring his love for her. Legend has it , he signed the note “From your Valentine.” Lupercalia was celebrated until 496AD, when Pope Gelasius changed it to a similar celebration. He chose as the patron saint of the festival, Saint Valentine, the lovers saint. He changed the date to February fourteenth, the anniversary of Saint Valentine’s death.