xiaoqiang says:"tomorrow is Valentine's day. i wish all couples a happy valentine's day. i wish all singles a happy valentine's day too. don't be afraid of this day as if this day was meant for couples only. it will be like normal weekends for this year. though i would understand that some of you hated this day for something bad happened; ie breakups, e.g. it wasn't anyone's fault to choose this day for breakups. disagree with me if i'm wrong; that women, generally, are more sensitive with dates or they have good memory of dates. which probably explains why your girlfriend(s) or wife are/is a little annoyed when you(guys) forgot something on a certain date like anniversary, birthday,etc. perhaps tomorrow is a good day to atone for it*grin*. below is a history of how V'day comes about.

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The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

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