It is a day in tribute to the third century Roman priest, St. Valentine, from the Catholic Church, who allegedly defied Emperor Claudius II when he outlawed marriage for young men by secretly marrying young lovers. Upon discovering this, the emperor ordered him to death. Other theories say that he was killed while helping Christians escape Roman prisons, or that he even sent the first “Valentine” to a young woman he’d fallen in love with while she was visiting him during his years of confinement.

     It’s a day that is celebrated globally today, a day that we see whites, pinks, and reds in every direction, a day that candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged, a day that a girl shyly gives her handmade card to the boy that constantly picks on her, a day of love and appreciation, a day of romance.

     Valentine’s Day. And why do we celebrate? As far as we can remember, it’s always been a pretty big “holiday”, and that’s a relative term because of its pertinence to each individual. Of course, many know this day as “National Singles Awareness Day”, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether it’s your lover, brother, mother, sister, grandmother—whoever—it’s still a day of love. The main target may be to young couples, yes—because of the hidden messages in each gift, such as “kisses” or “for that special someone” (that we don’t typically refer to as “mom”), and it’s used to impress the ladies. A simple box of chocolates will have her craving for more. A single red rose will leave her curious—a dozen will “wow” her! Today, we’ll be seeing a plethora of “wowing” moments, from the ladies’ outfits, to the impressive amounts of candy bought and given, and to the gasps of surprise when he reveals her surprise. And don’t forget about those carnations!

As everyone celebrates this holiday, remember those who are loved and those who return it. Remember the magic that comes from a few seconds of courage. Remember the relationships started and those that continue. And lastly, remember the hearts that beat in each of our chests, and may they beat a louder rhythm on this Valentine’s Day!