However, the story behind the day is filled with much less fluff and much more conviction.
What we know is that in 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius commemoraded February 14 as a holiday to honour St. Valentine. So the Saint lived before that time and also that he was Christian. The setting was the third age of the Roman Empire. It was currently being led by Emperor Claudius the second.
At this time there was a great need for men in the Roman army. Emperor Claudius (2) figured the reason men were not enlisting was because of the connection to family and marriage. So he outlawed marriage in Rome at that time.
St. Valentine felt strongly against this rule and decided to marry couples in secret. The Emperor found out and had St. Valentine arrested. He was brought before the Perfect of Rome who sentenced him to death by beating with clubs and finally to be beheaded.
The reason Feb.14 was chosen was because at that time the pagens celebrated a day to honour Juno - the Queen of the Roman gods and godesses. They also saw her as the goddess of marriage. They would put womens names in a bowl and men would choose out a name. The two were to be a couple for a month. Although it had been know to last to a year and later to marriage.
As was common in that time to lead pagans away from false gods the Christians put the St.Valentine holiday right over the other holiday. Also they substituded the names of the maidens for names of saints.
Today, this is how it came that men now choose women as valentines or saints as patrons for the comming year.
