Valentine's Day coming up. Whether you are a fan of the celebration or not, you might wonder how it got started and took over February. Here's a look back at the history of Valentine's Day: Start the day smarter.

Valentine’s Day 2025 will be celebrated on February 14th. It’s a special day for expressing love, affection, and appreciation towards those who hold a special place in our hearts. Valentine’s Day dates back to ancient Rome, with the celebration linked to St. Valentine, a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages for soldiers.

Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. Valentine’s Day became associated with love in the late Middle Ages, due to English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, according to history.com.

The season of love begins with Rose Day on February 7, marking the start of Valentine's Week. This special day is dedicated to expressing emotions through roses, each colour carrying a unique meaning.

Promise Day, observed on February 11, 2025, is the fifth day of Valentine's Week, a series of days dedicated to celebrating love and affection. Promise Day emphasizes the importance of commitment and trust in relationships. It's a day to make heartfelt promises to loved ones, reinforcing bonds and expressing dedication.

Make a Valentine’s Day card for your sweetheart, friend, or co-worker at a family-friendly craft experience. Art and wellness store Made With Love will provide card stock, pipe cleaners, stencils, paint, and other materials to help you create a card and fun memories with your kids or neighbors ($7).

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, has deep-rooted history. Discover how this day of love came to be and the legends that make it so special.