Surprising Facts About Valentine's Day

Learn more about the history behind Valentine's Day. Inside History [HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY]( Every February 14, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? The answer is shrouded in mystery. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to secretly perform marriages. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement, signing it "From your Valentine."[Read more ›]( [6 Surprising Facts About St. Valentine]( [10 Things You Didn’t Know Happened on Valentine's Day]( [See the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929—in Color]( [The Dos and Don’ts of 1940s Dating Etiquette]( [Display images to show real-time content]( Follow HISTORY [Subscribe]( | [Update Profile]( | [Contact Us](mailto:thc.newsletters@aetn.com) You received this message because {EMAIL} is subscribed to the Inside History email updates. If you DO NOT wish to to receive these emails please [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Having trouble viewing this message? [View the web version](. This is a promotional email from HISTORY and A+E Networks. © 2018 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Email Marketing, 235 E 45th Street, New York, NY 10017 [( [TV Parental Guidelines]( | [Careers]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Copyright Policy]( | [Ad Sales]( | [Ad Choices](