Although it might seem that Valentine’s Day was born in commercialism; in reality, the holiday holds an entanglement of traditions and culture in Paganism and Christianity. The celebration's roots date back to 2nd and 3rd Century Romans and wind through the ages to present day customs across the globe.

Romans of the 2nd and 3rd centuries celebrated Juno Fructifer, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses and Goddess of marriage on February 14th and Luperaclia a feast in honor of Faunus, God of fertility on February 15th. In one ritual women would submit their names into a box and the men would draw a name. The two would be a couple for the remainder of the festival. During Luperaclia, women would be whipped by the men with small a whip which was supposed to bring fertility.

In the year 469, emperor Gelasius changed the feast of Luperacalia to a day of martyrs and made it a holy day, honoring Valentinus. According to legend Valentinus was caught performing secret marriages and sentenced to death. Claudius II banned marriage to ensure men would not marry to avoid being drafted. The legend continues that while he was jailed, young lovers would visit him and leave notes about how love was better than war.  His execution occurred on February 14th in 269 CE. As the Christians did not believe in promoting love and fertility, boys and girls pulled names of martyred saints from the box.

The 14th century brought the Renaissance and with it came the more physical sense of love art and literature. Romance took center stage as poets and authors connected spring to love and sexuality. Bonds to church and faith became strained as society moved toward a more humanistic view. Although the past had variations of love associated with Valentine’s Day, it is believed that Chaucer first truly linked St. Valentine’s Day with love and romance. In 1381 Chaucer composed a poem in honor of the engagement of Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. In the poem entitled “The Parliaerment of Fowls” he was able to link the engagement, the mating of birds and St. Valentine’s Day.

Over time, gift giving and hand-made cards became popular in England. They featured hearts, lace and cupids. The popular tradition eventually spread to the colonies in the 18th century and became common place when Esther A. Howland of Worcester, Mass., began mass-producing them.

Today, Valentine’s Day is no longer part of the Christian church and is no longer considered a feast, celebration or memorial of martyrs. In 1969 the Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar and dropped the day, sending it in part back to its Pagan origins. Valentine’s Day is now celebrated all over the world in many different variations. Almost every country has adapted its own traditions and celebrates its own history.

During the Australian gold rush period, miners were willing to pay large sums for elaborate valentines. The most sought after valentines were made of a satin cushion, perfumed and decorated with flowers, shells and birds in a decorated box.

In Austria, it is customary for men to give women flowers on February 14th.

The different regions of Great Britain celebrate Valentine’s Day in different ways such as the singing of special songs by children who receive candy, fruit or money for their efforts and baking Valentine’s buns that are baked with caraway seed, plums or raisins. The sending of cards, gifts and flowers, however, is still standard across the country.

The Danish version of the Valentine’s card is known as a “lover’s card.” Danish men may also send a gaekkebrev or “joking letter.” The sender does not sign his name but uses dots, one for each letter of his name. If the receiver of the letter guesses the name of the sender she is rewarded with an Easter egg later in the year.

In France, the now banned custom known as “drawing for” was a popular tradition. Unmarried women would go into houses to call out to a chosen partner. If the partner that they chose to call on deserted her she could burn images of him at a bon-fire and verbally abuse him in loud voices as his photo burned.

It has become the custom in Germany for the man of a courting couple to give his beloved flowers on February 14th. German Valentine’s gifts are in the shape of love tokens and contain loving messages.

In Italy, much like the original Pagan feasts, Valentine’s Day was celebrated as a spring festival held outside where citizens would gather in arbors and gardens to listen to music and poetry. The practice has been slowly phased out and has not been in practice for centuries. In Turin, a long ago custom was for engaged couples to announce their engagements on February 14th. Stores were filled with bon-bons of all types for days before.

The Japanese celebrate Valentine’s on two different dates. February 14th and March 14th. On the first date, the woman gives a gift to the man and on the second date, known as White Day, the male has to return the gift. Chocolate is the most popular of gifts but store-bought chocolate is not known as the gift of true love. Most Japanese women make their own chocolate candies.

The same dates are traditional in Korean celebrations but “White Day” is signified by the man confessing his love for the first time. Another special day has been set aside in Korea for those who have no special partners. April 14th is known as “Black Day.” On that day men and women who have no special loved one get together for a meal of black Jajang noodles.

In Scotland, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with cards to loved ones and quiet dinners. One game played at small get-togethers is to have an equal number of unmarried males and females write their names on a piece of paper which is placed into a hat, one for the ladies and one for the men. Both men and women draw names. In most cases the names do not match and it is expected that the man will partner with the female who drew his name. The ladies then pin the pieces of paper to their sleeves or over their hearts. At the end of the festival it is not uncommon for marriages to take place.

 In Spain gifts are exchanged and husbands send their wives bouquets of roses.

Valentine’s Day in Taiwan is celebrated on February 14th and July 7th. On both days men send bouquets of roses and flowers to their sweet hearts. Based on Chinese folklore the amount and the color of the roses hold significance such as one red rose means “an only love,” eleven roses means “a favorite” and one-hundred and eight roses means “marry me.”

The world may never know for sure where the idea of Valentine’s Day originated as historians have been debating that for years. However, what is certain is that Valentine's Day has become not only rich with tradition, but it's one of the few traditions most of the world openly embraces.