It's only fitting that a holiday as dramatic and emotion-filled as St. Valentine's Day has just as dramatic a history.

To know the story of St. Valentine, we must first introduce you to Claudius the Second. He was the Emperor of Rome in the 3rd Century AD where Valentine lived. Claudius was in need of soldiers to fill his many military campaigns but was finding it increasingly difficult recruiting men. He felt that the men were reluctant to join because they were refusing to leave their wives and family. Claudius' answer was to ban marriage.

St. Valentine was… more