Every February, across the world, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do people celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day and its patron saint is a mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as commonly known today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. It is now being adopted by a fraction of our society which in reality has nothing to do with our religion, customs, beliefs, history and culture. But still people here in Pakistan celebrate this event just out of love and love alone.

So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, three different saints have been recognized who atleast named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men from his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl who may have been his jailor's daughter who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.

Then there is the Roman Feast of Lupercalia. This ancient pagan fertility celebration, which honored Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses and goddess of women and marriage, was held on February 14, the day before the feast began. During festival time, women would write love letters, also known as billets, and leave them in a large urn. The men of Rome would then draw a note from the urn and ardently pursue the woman who wrote the message they had chosen. (Apparently, the custom of lottery drawings to select valentines continued into the 18th century, coming to an end when people decided they'd rather choose sight seen! their valentines.) Now for the Birds and the Bees? In the Middle Ages, people began to send love letters on Valentine's Day. Medieval Europeans believed that birds began to mate on February 14.

There are a number of symbols associated with Valentine. The heart! It was thought in ancient times that the heart is the source of all emotions. It later came to be associated only with the emotion of love. Red roses were said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love; also, red is a color that signifies strong feelings. Lace has long been used to make women's handkerchiefs. Hundreds of years ago, if a woman dropped her handkerchief, a man might pick it up for her. Sometimes, if she had her eye on the right man, a woman might intentionally drop her handkerchief to encourage him. So, people began to think of romance when they thought of lace. Love knots have series of winding and interlacing loops with no beginning and no end. A symbol of everlasting love, love knots were made from ribbon or drawn on paper. Lovebirds, colorful birds found in Africa, are so named because they sit closely together in pairs -- like sweethearts do! Doves are symbols of loyalty and love, because they mate for life and share the care of their babies.