It’s that time of year again. The month that is dedicated to romance, when chocolate boxes and bears holding hearts seem to be stuffed onto every shelf of every store.

But was Feb. 14 always the day of love? Or did it derive from something else that wasn’t as sweet?

According to History, it is believed that St. Valentine’s day takes place in the middle of February as a way to draw away from the not-so-romantic Pagan Festival, Lupercalia, which happened to be celebrated in Rome on Feb. 15.

Compared to our actual celebrated St. Valentine’s day, Lupercalia was more of fertility festival. Animal sacrifices were performed and rituals that consisted of women being slapped with the hide of sacrificed animals would be practiced during this festival, because it was believed that the touch of the hide would make them more fertile in the coming year.

Once Christianity had taken root towards the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius declared what we today call Valentine’s Days to be on Feb. 14 but it wasn’t until a later date that it began to be associated with the idea of love.

There are many stories of who this festive day commemorates. The one story that stands out among the rest is of a holy priest who was executed February 14, 248 A.D., by the name of Valentine.

He was beheaded by Emperor Claudius II, who had banned all marriages and engagements in Rome in order to get more soldiers to join his army. The priest Valentine, going against this unfair law, continued to marry couples in secret up until he was discovered. It was after his execution that he was given the title of a saint.

But history can be a tricky thing. There are many records on multiple Saint Valentines who are all martyrs, all under the same date of Feb. 14.

Further down the timeline of history, it is believed that Geoffrey Chaucer helped popularize St. Valentine’s Day with his poem. His poem mentions the Feb. 14 as the day birds and humans come together to find their significant other.

Different places around the world have adapted their own version of Valentine’s Day. Although the background of these celebrations might be a tad bit different, some of their concepts can be considered the same.

Take Japan as an example. Women gift different types of chocolates on March 14 to the different types of men in your life. Platonic friends will receive a type called “Giri-choco” compared to their partners who receive a finer type of chocolates.

Whenever or however Valentine’s Day came to be, remember to show your love and appreciation to not only your significant other, but to all your friends and family as well.