The origin of Valentine’s Day is a bit of a mystery. While February has long been celebrated as a month of love, St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it, blends both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become linked to this age-old celebration?

Origin Story 1: One popular legend suggests that Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome. Emperor Claudius II believed that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, so he banned marriage for young men. Valentine, seeing the injustice of this decree, secretly continued performing marriages for young couples. Once his actions were discovered, Claudius had him sentenced to death.

Other accounts point to Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, as the true origin of the holiday, who, like the priest, was beheaded by Claudius II near Rome. Valentine may have been executed for attempting to help Christians escape brutal Roman prisons, where they were often subjected to beatings and torture. One legend even claims that while imprisoned, Valentine sent the first "valentine" greeting. It’s said that he fell in love with a young girl—possibly the jailor's daughter—who visited him during his confinement.

The most interesting origin story is that of a pagan festival of Lupercalia. Held on February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility celebration honoring Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.

The festival began with members of the Luperci, a group of Roman priests, gathering at a sacred cave where Romulus and Remus were said to have been cared for by a she-wolf. The priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. They would then cut the goat’s hide into strips, dip them in the blood, and take them into the streets, lightly striking women and fields with the hides.

Roman women welcomed the touch of the goat hides, as it was believed to increase their fertility for the coming year. Later in the day, all the young women would place their names into an urn, and the city’s bachelors would draw a name, pairing with a woman for the year. These pairings often led to marriage.

While the true details of Valentine’s story remain unclear, the common thread through all the legends is his portrayal as a compassionate, heroic, and—above all—romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, likely due to this reputation, Valentine became one of the most beloved saints in both England and France.

What are some fun ways to celebrate this romantic holiday in your community?

1. Run a Rom- Com Movie Night (romantic comedy) in your community center.

2. Host a Dessert Night complete with plenty of chocolate and sweets.

3. Do some volunteer work within your community or neighborhood.

4. Collect for charity.

5. Simply send residents a card from the board and manager.

6. Host a Galentine’s Day celebration for all the women in your community.

7. Promote love and appreciation messages on your community’s social media.