Valentine was a common name in Late Antiquity – there are 14 Roman Catholic Saint Valentines. Historians have narrowed down the tradition to one of two Saint Valentine martyrs who were preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14, 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day. The first connection between Valentine’s Day and love was provided by English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem, Parlement of Foules, written in the late 14th century.
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