Valentine's Day is celebrated February 14th every year as a day to display affection. People send cards (called "valentines") to their friends, family, and loved ones. Verses on valentines that often rhyme and express love and affection. Something valentines even contain humorous pictures or puns- but almost all ask, "Be My Valentine."
Valentine's Day falls on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine, although the customs of Valentine's Day have nothing to do with the lives of these saints. It is believed that the customs come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage- and Pan, the god of nature.
Valentine's Day is a great day to celebrate not only our close loved ones, but our close friends as well. School children decorate their classrooms with bright red paper hearts, and they exchange gifts, candy, flowers, or "valentines."
