According to legend in the 3rd century after Christ, Emperor  Claudius II did not want any of his soldiers falling in love and marrying because he felt women and families distracted the soldier’s from their duty to him. And in some cases made the men not want to go to war at all.  And he needed more soldiers so he declared marriage illegal. And anyone performing this ceremony would be killed.   Rumor has it that St. Valentine was a priest who defied the emperor’s ban on marriages by marrying young people in secret.  He was discovered, and put to death.

Roman armies invaded countries physically as well as socially.  When the Romans invaded France, they introduced this festival in which Roman boys drew names of Roman girls out of an urn (to determine their partners) and then the couple exchanged gifts on the festival’s day.  This was considered a pagan celebration, so in 469 C.E., Pope Gelasius decided to put a Christian spin on this celebration by declaring that it was now to honor St. Valentine (A young Roman who was martyred by Emperor Claudius II who was said to have died on February 14, 270 C.E. for refusing to give up Christianity).  

ANOTHER VALENTINE TIDBIT

In mythology, humans had four arms, four legs, and two faces. Fearing them, Zeus split them into two, forcing an eternal search for their other half.