By Katarina Tepesh

Valentine's Day is a happy holiday! We send cards, flowers, candy and/or make our own valentines for friends and family to let them know we care!

Through the ages, many cultures have paused to celebrate love and romance in mid-February called St. Valentine's Day. The romantic holiday originated from several events and customs, with several historic versions.

One version traces observance of Valentine's Day to the Roman Empire. In Ancient Rome, the date of February 14 was a holiday to honor the Queen of Roman Goddesses and Gods, Juno. Juno was known as the Goddess of women and marriage.

Another version claims, how for 800 years the Romans celebrated love and lovers, dedicated to the god of Lupercalia, a festival of eroticism that honored Juno Februata, the goddess of "feverish" (febris) love. Love notes or "billets" were drawn blindly and women and men proceeded to sexual game playing. Sometimes these parings would last only during the festival or a year or end up in marriage.

The Christian clergy stopped the erotic festivities. The powerful Church selected a Roman priest Valentinus, who served during the third century in Rome.

According to one legend, Valentinus ignored a decree from Emperor Claudius II that forbade all marriages and betrothals. Emperor Claudius II believed that the reasons why men refused go to war were that they did not want to leave their lovers or families. Caught in the act of secretly marrying people and breaking the law, Valentinus was imprisoned, sentenced to death and beheaded on February 14. Therefore, the Patron Saint of Lovers "St Valentine."

Another version of the story claims how Saint Valentine, a Roman priest, during his stay in jail, fell in love with the jailer's daughter. On the day of his execution, as a last farewell in a note, he wrote, "From your Valentine."

Esther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial American valentines in the 1840's, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards during her first year of business.

In 1910, Joyce Hall started selling greeting cards from two shoeboxes that became big business called Hallmark. The valentine industry has been booming ever since. Printed in 30 languages, St. Valentines is celebrated in 100 countries.

We recognize several Valentine Symbols, such as Cupid, lace, Red Rose. The rose, a favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The color red stands for strong feelings, this is why the red rose has been chosen as the favorite flower of love.

Heart - emotions are feelings, such as love and happiness, anger and fear. Long ago, people believed that all emotions originated in the heart. Today, we know that the heart is, basically, the pump that keeps blood flowing through our bodies.

Lovebirds are colorful parrots found in Africa. They are called lovebirds because they sit closely together in pairs.

Doves were thought to be the favorite birds of Venus. They remain with the same mate all their lives. Both, male and female care for their babies. Because these birds represent loyalty and love, they are also symbols of Valentine's Day.

How about the "X" sign representing a kiss? This tradition started with the medieval practice of allowing those who could not write to sign documents with an "X". This was done before witnesses, and the signer placed a kiss upon the "X" to show sincerity. This is how the kiss came to be synonymous with the letter "X", and how the "X" came to be commonly used at the end of letters as kiss symbols.

Valentine's Day is a special day for V-Day, a non-for-profit organization from New York City. Since 1998, the founder Eve Ensler and others, raised over $26 million. All proceeds benefit the movement to end violence against women and girls worldwide. When you donate money to V-Day, you give your Valentine a gift that really means love. The money benefits women in Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Juarez, Mexico, Iraq, Afghanistan, or at the V-Day Safe House in Kenya.

Love quotations:

Mother Theresa "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."

Albert Einstein "How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as love?"

John Lennon "We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You cannot just accept it and leave it in cupboard or just think it is going to get on by itself. You have to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it."

Poem by Maya Angelou "Love's Exquisite Freedom"

Love arrives;
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet, if we are bold
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity.
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet, it is only LOVE
Which sets us free.