Valentine’s Day originated as a complex mix of the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, a gritty fertility ritual, and the martyrdom of Saint Valentine, a priest who reportedly performed secret marriages against imperial orders. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that the day became synonymous with romance, largely thanks to the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who linked the feast day to the mating season of birds.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the holiday transitioned from handwritten poems and "courtly love" to a commercial powerhouse. With the rise of mass-produced greeting cards and the marketing of chocolates and jewelry, it evolved into the global celebration of romantic love we recognize today—shifting from a somber religious feast to a multi-billion dollar industry centered on gift-giving.