Featured image via Irishcentral.com

Every year, couples around the world celebrate their love on Valentine’s Day; they exchange gifts, buy flowers, and go out on a fancy date. Although people have been celebrating this day of love for centuries, we were curious to find out more about its roots. That’s why we dug into it to bring you facts about the lovey-dovey occasion, from the origin of its name to the reason behind the date.

Let’s start with the story of how Valentine’s Day got its name. The holiday was named after a priest who was martyred by Emperor Claudius II Gothicus. It all goes back to when Claudius banned marriage so soldiers would be more focused. However, Saint Valentine found that this decision is so unfair, so he decided to arrange marriages in secret, but when Claudius found out about that, he decided to execute the priest.

The whole world celebrates Valentine’s Day on the 14th of February, as this was the day Saint Valentine was executed around 270 AD. So, in honour of the deceased saint and priest, the Catholic church announced that day as a feast in his loving memory.

Aside from the origins of the occasion, you know how the colour red is always associated with Valentine’s Day and love? When you walk down the street and find everything in red; the balloons, flowers, decorations, and even people’s outfits, you know it’s Valentine’s Day. Well, red symbolises confidence and beauty. Not only that, but a study conducted by psychologists at the University of Rochester found that men and women get more attracted to each other when wearing red.

So, as the long-awaited day is almost here, Happy Valentine’s Day to all lovebirds out there, and don’t forget to check out our guide for places to celebrate.