Valentine’s Day has a long and mythical history

Like nearly all other holidays, Valentine's Day has been transformed into a commercialized frenzy. Flowers, chocolate, candy, cards and crazy love (the last one being defined in a variety of ways) have all contributed to the idea that Valentine's is just a conspiracy by companies to sell more treats.

But there's more to this day than just glitz and glitter. There are several legends surrounding Valentine's Day, and when asked about the history of the holiday, many remain uncertain.

"Is that German?" wonders Caleb Savage, a freshman studying mechanical engineering. While he doesn't know much about its history, he thinks Valentine's is a "good way to celebrate your special someone."

For sophomore Monica Lee, also a mechanical engineering major, Feb. 14 reminds her of the history surrounding St. Valentine, but she also considers it "a day where you show someone you care."

Anna Tayebrejad, a sophomore bio-chem major, thinks that it's a day that shows "how much you love chocolate."

While it's popular for love and treats, Valentine's Day has a rich, albeit uncertain, history dating back to the third century A.D.

In the pre-Christian era, ancient Rome used Feb. 13 through 15 to celebrate Lupercalia, a pagan fertility festival.

Circa A.D. 197, martyr Valentine of Terni was imprisoned, tortured and beheaded in Rome for his Christianity. Per legend, he died on Feb. 14.

In circa A.D. 270, Valentine of Rome, another Christian, was martyred under Claudius II, known as "Claudius the Cruel." Like Valentine of Terni, he was first imprisoned before being beheaded.

Several versions of this Valentine's story exist. One says that he performed secret marriages against the emperor's command; another says that he was imprisoned after aiding prisoners in Rome; still another says that he fell in love with the jailer's daughter after healing her sight, allegedly sending her letters and signed them "From your Valentine."

Later, circa A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 to be St. Valentine's Day, a Christian day for feasting (hoping to replace the pagan holiday Lupercalia).

But Feb. 14 has been associated with more than death, imprisonment and paganism.

During the Middle Ages, many in England and France associated mid-February as the beginning of birds' mating season, denoting a sense of romance. Shortly afterward and into the 15th century, written valentines began circulating, around the same time Gutenberg invented the printing press.

Throughout the following centuries, other events that have fallen on or near Feb. 14 have been associated with Valentine's Day.

Regardless of which event people associate with Valentine's Day, many have mixed feelings on the holiday itself.

"If you really love someone, you shouldn't need one day to show that," said freshman communication major Presley Schwisow. "What companies have turned it into takes the meaning away from it."

In 2009, Valentine's Day generated an estimated $14.7 billion in U.S. retail sales. Each year, people buy about a billion Valentine's cards, 100 million roses (in a 3-day period) and 35 million heart-shaped boxes of candy. The average consumer spends $77 on Valentine's Day gifts.

And Americans aren't the only ones who become starry-eyed come Valentine's. The holiday is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia, with millions of cupids flying lovably amuck.

Unlike other Western holidays, many today don't look at the history of this special day. While historians remain uncertain on the specifics surrounding the origins of Valentine's Day, they all agree that the holiday has morphed into something uniquely different than any legends had intended.

Whether you're celebrating the holiday because of what some Roman dude did several centuries ago or because you just like red roses, dark chocolate and sparkling jewelry, it's a special day to extend kind words to those most special to you.