Valentine must have been a popular name as there are three different saints named Valentine. They are noted as they were all martyred. And that salutation greeting - "From your Valentine" started with one of these.
Of course, Valentine's Day starts as a pre-Roman Catholic Festival - these pre-Catholic festivals are all now referred to as "Pagan". Somehow by the 5th century Pope Gelasuis declared February 14th as Valentine's Day. That would be the pattern to Christianize a favourite festival.
But how did Cupid get involved? Isn't that a "Pagan" figure? Yes, Roman. The original Eros used golden arrows to incite love and leaden ones to sow aversion. Later on he was portrayed as a mischievous, chubby boy.
And another of course, religious countries would ban Valentine's Day. Saudi Arabia - one of the most conservative countries in the world, Muslim countries - Indonesia and Pakistan see it as a Christian celebration and have made it illegal. Other countries include Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Iran. The principle is that people who are not married cannot mingle. One site says that because Valentine's Day goes back to Roman times, not Islamic times, it belongs exclusively to the Christians not to Islam. But it seems there is a distinct view that this time it is the Roman Catholics who are the "pagans" on a holiday.
Here we are in North America with a holiday that is commercially dominated. No religious celebrations here. I am told this is the one day that Cole's can count on men to come in and buy flowers.
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