For most Americans, Valentine’s Day immediately brings to mind images of flowers, candy, hearts and cupids.

Have you ever wondered why Feb. 14 is the day designated for affection?

According to Hallmark.com, Valentine’s Day is the second-largest holiday in terms of the number of greeting cards sold – approximately 188 million industrywide.

So what is the story behind this holiday?

While Valentine’s Day has some mysterious roots, the holiday’s history is perhaps the ultimate lesson in love.

According to HistoryChannel.com, the Catholic Church identifies three saints connected to Feb. 14. Of them, the most popular was St. Valentine, who was a priest in Rome during the third century.

When Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, St. Valentine helped young lovers marry against the emperor’s wishes. As a punishment for his disobedience, Valentine was sentenced to death.

However, during his jail time, but before his execution, Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. The last letter he wrote her was signed “from your Valentine” – a phrase still used today. Valentine’s sentencing was carried out on Feb. 14. Thus – Valentine’s Day.

According to Hallmark.com, it was Pope Gelasius I who declared Feb. 14 to be St. Valentine’s Day.

Month of Commitment?

According to HistoryChannel.com, in ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and a time for purification. Feb. 15 was the beginning of the fertility festival dedicated to Faunas, the Roman god of agriculture.

During this festival, the young unmarried women would place their names in an urn and the bachelors would pick a woman’s name out of it. The two would then be paired for the year, and many matches ended in marriage.