We know that Valentine's Day has its roots in both Roman tradition and Christian tradition.

The Catholic Church recognizes three different saints who were martyred in the name of love and romance.

One legend tells of Valentine, a priest who served in Rome during the third century. Emperor Claudius II, who was in need of a larger army, outlawed marriage for young, single men because he thought that the best soldier was a single soldier. Valentine, who could not stand for this injustice, went against Claudius' orders and continued secretly to perform marriages for young lovers. When Claudius found out that Valentine was defying him, orders were sent out that Valentine should be put to death.

Another legend holds that Valentine was killed for trying to help Christians escape torturous Roman prisons.

The third story claims that while in prison, Valentine was the first to send an actual written valentine. It is said that he fell in love with the prison guard's daughter who frequently took time to visit him. Before he died, he wrote her a letter and in closing wrote, "From your Valentine."

In third-century Rome, Pagans honored Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses, on February 14. Juno also was considered to be the goddess of women and marriage. The following day, the Romans began the Feast of Lupercalia -- a fertility festival held to honor other gods and goddesses, especially Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture and Lupercus, who watched over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Roman priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. Young men would slice the goat's hide into strips, dip them in sacrificial blood and go out to gently slap both women and crops with the strips. The women wanted to be touched with the hide because they believed it would make them more fertile during the next year. Afterward, the young men would pick a young woman's name from an urn. The couple would spend time together throughout the following year and often the random pairing led to love and marriage.

In 498 A.D., this Roman version of "Love Connection" was considered un-Christian by Pope Gelasius. He declared February 14 as Valentine's Day because he wanted to steer away from the Pagan ritual, including honoring its god, Lupercus. Saint Valentine was the obvious choice for a patron saint of love. Gelasius decided that a change to the lottery also was in order and insisted that instead of young women's names, the names of saints would be placed in the urn. Women as well as men now would choose the name of a saint. Throughout the year, they were to emulate the ways of their chosen saint.

People in Europe believed that Valentine's Day is in February because the 14th is the beginning of birds' mating season, and therefore, a day for romance.

We currently celebrate Valentine's Day by honoring those we love with gifts and valentine greeting cards.