Love is in the air! Chocolate, cards, roses, fancy dinners, jewelry. The very things that make Valentine's Day, right? Eh. People tend to complain in December about Christmas being a commercial holiday, but Valentine's Day is much worse. This holiday went from meaningful day to commercial. I can tell you right now, before even having done my research for this, the Romans and pagans probably had something to do with. Religion and beliefs have a funny way of being involved in everything.

Don't understand the point of Valentine's day because you should show your partner and friends your love all year and not just one day? Here are 11 facts about Valentine's day:

1. Valentine's Day was originally Lupercalia.

Lupercalia was an ancient - very ancient - Roman festival. The ceremony was intended to keep out evil and secure fertility. Men would dress as goats because they were a symbol of fertility. It was not abolished until the end of the 5th century.

2. It used to be celebrated on February 15th.

Okay, well, technically Lupercalia was celebrated February 15th. The pope at the time wanted to separate the world from the pagan rituals - and yet tweak them to fit the Christian dialogue; how convenient. That being said, the pope changed the date to February 14th so it could conveniently be on the day Christian's celebrated St. Valentine, a martyr.

3. St. Valentine was killed for marrying lovers.

The theme of love was very much alive at the root of this holiday. St. Valentine of Rome was a priest who would want to marry, but not be allowed by the city or country.

4. Valentine's Day is Chaucer's fault.

Even though the themes of marriage and fertility were clear for centuries, Valentine's day was not associated with love until the 14th century. Chaucer was the first to link romance and St. Valentine's Day by writing a poem to the newly engaged, England's Richard II and Anne of Bohemia.

5. Cards were not exchanged until the 18th century.

In England, the gift-exchanging part of the holiday became popular in the 18th century. They would hand-make cards of lace, ribbons, and hearts - featuring the pagan Cupid. This eventually spread to the American colonies. This did not become widespread in the United States until the 1850s, however.

6. In Finland, Valentine's Day is Ystavanpaiva.

How hard did you struggle pronouncing that word? No worries. That Finnish holiday translates to "Friends' Day". This holiday is more about friends than it is about being single or in a relationship.

7.XOXO (Hugs and Kisses)

The symbol "X" became associated with the "kiss" in medieval times. People who could not write their names - which wasn't too unusual at the time - signed in front of a witness with an X. In order to show sincerity, the X was kissed.

8. Girls would eat weird food to dream of their future spouse.

In the medieval times, women would prepare odd foods in order to have detailed and life-like dreams. They would eat this in hopes of a way of telling their future and to see who their spouse would be.

9. "Wear your heart on your sleeve."

This expression actually came about in the Middle Ages. Young men and women would place their names in a bowl and draw names to choose a Valentine. Once they chose a name, they had to pin the names on their sleeves for one week for everyone to see.

10. Chocolate was thought to be a cure for love.

Ah, medicine of the 1800s. They believed you should eat chocolate as a way to cure your pining a lost love.

11. Roses on Valentine's Day

Roses were given to loved ones on Valentine's day because they were thought to be Venus' - the Roman Goddess of Love - favourite flower.