It was Feb 15 and not 14th that Romans first thought of Lovers' day; though it was more of a fertility ritual, with male youthful angst running naked on the street hoping to get a glimpse of cheering women. This reminds me of the UP Oblation run, without the head cover.
The young Roman women would purposely present their palms out, as if playing with flowers & vines on a garden. This ritual, they call Lupercalia, which originated from the she-wolf worship who suckled the Roman kings Remus (which, It think was the basis of Remus Lupin in Harry Potter - with Lupin taken from Lupus or wolf) and Romulus.
It was a time of shepherds, and wolves were seen as a mythical monsters that took the livelihood and lives of men. It was a time of low fertility, that they offer bloods from animals to summon fertility Gods.
Some even offer to the Goddess Juno (where the movie with the same name was inspired), Festival of Juno Februa, which was celebrated on February 13-14.
Romanticizing the idea cause numerous legends, folklore and stories to emphasize the romantic era of poetry and Catholicism: Archbishop Valentine providing marriage to a "Romeo & Juliet" lovers; St. Valentine being strucked into the heart by an arrow, hence the heart and
arrow by the cupids.
Marketing paved way and cards, roses, jewelry and chocolates were branded for the lover's season. the card-giving originated from an elementary project, with children writing good things about their classmates. It was the children who taught the adults to give love in writing. A certain Leigh Eric Schmidt during 1840's enhanced the idea and was able to start the card industry. Hallmark by Joyce C. Hall, after a century, follow through.
All of these thoughts dawned at me while enjoying the heart-shaped greeting card, hear-shaped donut and a delicious chocolate and on my table.
So I guess I have to thank the Romans for the romance.
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