Welcome to the month of love, or more commonly known as “February”. This month is most often associated with Valentine’s Day, celebrated on the 14th. But sifting through all the traditions, where does this holiday come from? Because let’s be honest, the celebration of Valentine’s is a bit odd; an entire holiday celebrating love.

Well… do I have a story for you, a wondrous tale that stretches all the way back to medieval times. Let me give you some backstory: During the years of 268-270 A.D., Roman Emperor Claudius “Gothicus” II, also known as Marcus Aurelius Claudius Gothicus—wow, that’s quite a mouthful –  was a very strategic Emperor, known for decisively defeating the Gothics and the Alemanni tribes who sought to overthrow him in the Balkans in 269 A.D., earning him the nickname “Gothicus.”

Although Claudius II isn’t our sole focus here, he does play a role in the story. Our primary target is still St. Valentine. During this time, Rome had a decree that prohibited men in the Roman army from marrying (as some tried to leave the military this way), a rule set by Emperor Claudius II. Under this decree, St. Valentine became determined to help Roman soldiers marry their spouses, hoping to help them avoid the bloodshed of the rather gruesome campaigns during that period.

During St. Valentine’s secret campaign in Terni—present-day Italy—word spread, eventually reaching Claudius. Upon hearing the news, Claudius ordered St. Valentine’s execution for violating and disobeying the Emperor’s will. Unfortunately, Valentine was not able to escape the Emperor’s wrath. He was captured, held in prison, and executed on February 14th, 270 A.D. During his time in captivity, Valentine befriended the jailer’s daughter and healed her blindness. In his last letter, Valentine signed the note “from your Valentine,” according to legend.

And so, this is the lore of Valentine’s day. It’s a bit odd we’re celebrating the death of a martyr—St. Valentine—though it is a fitting holiday for what has become known as the paragon of love.

Here’s a little fun fact: Valentine’s Day was removed from the general Roman calendar in 1969 due to a lack of reliable information about its origins. However, it continues to be recognized by the Catholic Church.

And with that, we’ve reached the end of this article. Thank you, dear reader, for making it all the way through! Now, go have some fun on Valentine’s Day—grab some candies for your friends, write a sweet card for your crush, buy a box (or heart) of chocolates, or just take some time to relax. We all need a break now and then, and there’s no shame in that. 

A special thanks to History.com and Britannica for all information provided.