The following is an encore presentation of Everything Everywhere Daily.

Every February 14th, people around the world celebrate Valentine's Day.

It's a day for everything heart-shaped, flowers, jewelry, candy, and romance.

But why is this day dedicated to romance? And what's the deal with hearts? And who or what is a Valentine.

Is this all a giant conspiracy of greeting card manufacturers?

Learn more about St Valentine's Day on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. everything everywhere daily. Book your ticket to happiness with Sun Express Airlines. I'm going to go. Valentine's Day, which is an extremely secular holiday today,

actually has its roots as the Christian feast day of Saint Valentine.

Who then is Saint Valentine?

Valentine was an early Christian who lived in Rome.

As with many Saints from the period, there isn't a whole lot that's known about him.

In fact, there may have been more than one Saint Valentine from the early Christian Church.

Saint Valentine of Rome is believed to have been martyred in the year 269 under the Emperor Claudius the second.

St Valentine of Terni was a bishop who was martyred in the year 273 under the Emperor Aurelian.

A third Saint Valentine may have been martyred in the Roman

province of Africa around this time, although nothing else is known about this person

beyond their name. It should be noted that historians aren't even sure of Valentine of Rome and Valentine of

Terni were in fact separate people. On one hand they were very close in time and location

to each other so they easily might have been the same person.

On the other hand, Valentine was a pretty common name in the late imperial period,

so it's very possible that they may have been different people.

Speaking of which, the name Valentine comes from the name Valens, which was a popular Roman name.

In addition to the three possible Saints I just mentioned, there are eight more Saints who share the name Valentine who aren't lumped together with this group

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