While it might be common knowledge that Americans will spend billions of dollars this Valentine's Day season celebrating, it is lesser-known how Valentine's Day actually came about.
Let's begin with St. Valentine – or the Valentines. As history.com points out, there are a number of Valentines – nearly all of them martyrs – that are connected to the holiday. However, St. Valentine of Terni might be the most famous, with two legends associated with him.
Under the rule of Claudius II, the Roman army relied largely on single men. In an effort to save lives, Valentine, who was the bishop of Terni at the time, would wed couples to keep husbands away from war. What a guy, right?
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