Happy Valentine's Day

Smooches and roses, chocolates and cards, here we go once again celebrating the day dedicated to love. Every year, the florists, candy and card companies make a killing off of couples celebrating St. Valentine's Day. But who was Valentine and why is his day associated with love?

In the year 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius I dedicated February 14 as the day to honor several Christian martyrs named Valentine. They were canonized as St. Valentine by the Catholic Church and Valentine's Day was a day to celebrate the love they had for their faith.

It's not until the 14th century that there was a shift in what kind of love was being celebrated on Valentine's Day. This was a time of courtly love, knights and their ladies fair. King Richard II of England wrote a poem to his then-fiance Anne of Bohemia describing how Valentine's Day was a celebration of their love for each other. Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, described two love birds who nuzzled with each other on V-Day (he really was talking about birds, not peeking in somebody's bedroom window).

Exchanging cards on Valentine's Day became popular in Britain and America in the late 18th century. During Victorian times, these cards became quite racy- which is ironic because the Victorian times were known for being very prudish. By the 20th century, the custom once again shifted a bit. Typically, men were supposed to present their lady loves with the traditional card plus other gifts like roses, chocolates and jewelry. In the 1980's, diamond brokers started promoting the diamond ring as the perfect V-Day present. Needless to say, lots of marriage proposals came on Valentine's Day.

Since I don't have a significant other to celebrate the day with, I'll just consider you all my valentines. The card at the top is for you. Have a happy one!