St Valentine is based on 3 Christian saints/priests from third century Rome.
Legends tell that he was martyred. One said the Emperor Claudius had banned marriage among his soldiers. Valentine defied him by marrying soldiers.
Another said that St Valentine fell in love with his jailer's daughter and sent her a letter signed "your Valentine".
A further legend tells that St Valentine became associated with the pagan festival of Lupercalia from early February. At this festival young unmarried people picked names randomly who remained partners for the season.
One legend that is consistent is that St Valentine was martyred.
Relics of him are widespread. His skull is said to be in Rome. There are also relics in Spain, Glasgow, Ireland (at White friars Church, Dublin) and Italy. He is celebrated in numerous countries as the patron saint of romantic love, beekeepers and epileptics.
It is thought that the St Valentine's Day festival was institutionalised by Geoffrey Chaucer (Canterbury tales) during the Middle Ages.
By the middle of the 18th small tokens were sent among couples.
In the 19th century greeting cards began to be sent in the US and spread worldwide. The Cadbury Company produced special chocolate gifts.
Today St Valentine's Day is celebrated in Britain, Ireland, France, Australia, Canada, Mexico and the US.
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