Valentine's Day
Every year on February 14, people celebrate St. Valentine’s Day by exchanging cards, candy or flowers with their special "valentine." The holiday, named after a Christian martyr, dates back to the 5th century but has roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia.
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There were multiple St. Valentines, but their romantic legacies are more fiction than fact.
The ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia involved fertility rituals, but its influence on Valentine’s Day is no perfect match.
Chocolates and roses are common ways to mark Valentine's Day, but there are other, lesser-known traditions to commemorate the holiday.
Rather than expressing love and affection, these cards were designed to offend.
The First Valentine
History Shorts: The First Valentine
While Valentine's Day is shared by lovers sharing time together, one of the first Valentine cards was sent from an enemy prison.
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Discover the essence of Valentine's Day: delve into its true meaning, explore its rich history and origins.
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The historical origins and meaning of Valentine’s Day is as rich as the cards and chocolates people exchange on the holiday.
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Who was St. Valentine, and why do we celebrate him on February 14? Get the facts about this enigmatic character.
History offers various explanations from an ancient species of giant fennel to anatomical drawings in medieval texts.
The love between these famous couples really did change the world.
From poets and presidents to kings and courtesans, find out more about 10 of history's most famous tales of love and loss.
St. Valentine is thought to be the patron saint of lovers. The truth is more complicated.
A Boston pharmacist and his brothers invented the original conversation candy heart.
The Roman Empire regularly persecuted Christians like St. Valentine.
From Judas to V-J Day to an interracial 'Star Trek' encounter, see which kisses left their mark in history.
Think acronyms are a product of the digital era? Think again.
The religious origins of the holiday don’t stem from the Bible.
'Mental Hygiene Films' helped guide teens through the tough questions, like how to decide which girl to ask to the carnival and the proper way to end a first date.
There were multiple St. Valentines, but their romantic legacies are more fiction than fact.
