St. Valentine defied Roman ruler

Every February, somewhere between the Super Bowl leftovers and our first, hopeful thoughts of spring, Valentine’s Day arrives. Along with chocolates and roses arises the annual question: Who exactly was Valentine, and how did he get us all buying heart-shaped candy?

Beginning in ancient Rome, naturally, historians believe there were actually a few different Valentines, but the most popular tale centers around a priest who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. He supposedly decided single men made better soldiers than married ones, so he banned weddings. Valentine, apparently a believer in both love and common sense, secretly performed marriages anyway. When he was caught, he was imprisoned and later executed on February 14 around the year 270. Legend says he signed a note to a friend “from your Valentine,” unintentionally creating the world’s longest-running greeting card tradition.

For centuries afterward, the date quietly honored the saint, but the romance part didn’t really bloom until the Middle Ages, when poets started connecting the day with courtly love. By the 1700s, handwritten notes became popular in England. By the 1800s, factories began mass-producing cards, proving that even romance eventually finds its way into an assembly line.

Today, Valentine’s Day looks a little different. It’s less about medieval devotion and more about modern affection from spouses, kids, friends, coworkers, teachers, pets and anyone else who improves our day-to-day lives. Some celebrate with candlelit dinners and beautiful flower arrangements, others with pizza on the couch. Some go big with jewelry, others go small with a simple text message and a heart emoji. And let’s be honest, there are plenty of us who celebrate on February 15 when the candy is half price.

At its core, Valentine’s Day has survived for nearly 1,800 years because the idea behind it is simple: People like to be appreciated. Whether it’s a bouquet, a card or just remembering to say, “I’m glad you’re in my life,” the tradition hasn’t really changed.

So this weekend, don’t stress about perfection. Love has lasted a long time and will continue to do so. A kind word still works just as well as it did in ancient Rome and, thankfully, without the risk of imprisonment.