February 14th celebrated as Valentine Day mostly in USA. Some says that it based on a sad story of a kind priest in the Roman Empire under the Emperor Claudius II in 264 AD. When the Roman Empire and legions need soldiers to expand the kingdom, Claudius II decreed that nobody could be engaged to get married. He determined that married men made poor soldiers, so he banned marriage from his kingdom.

St Valentine disapproved the regulation and secretly kept on marrying couples by light candle-lights in the castle basement or wine cellars. That time Emperor considered as semi-God, so when the Emperor found out St Valentine's activity he then imprisoned and be-headed on February 14th,270 AD.

Before his execution day Valentine wrote a letter to the jailor's daughter that he had healed from her blindness. And he wrote : “With love from your Valentine”.

Although the legend above is not confirmed as the history of Valentine's day, we can see that there is a spirit of love in the story. In Italy itself and European countries Valentine's day considered as a holiday imported from the United States.

In Italy they celebrate Valentine's day as a spring festival, which is also a romantic festival. Lovers will express love and expression to their beloved. In some cities in Italy couples will announce their engagement on the Valentine's day.

Another Valentine's tradition in Italy and England are that unmarried girls should wake up early in Valentine's day, as they believe that they will get married within a year with a man, that looks like the first man they see in the morning of Valentine's day.

Valentine's day in Finland is more celebrated as a friendship day, more than a lover's day.

Lovers are exchanging gifts too in this day. It could be cards, flowers, chocolate, diamond or in Italy the common gift is a small chocolate containing a piece of paper with a romantic poetic quote (Baci Perugina)

Valentine's Day is very popular in The United States. Although it is not a public holiday, this day is the day of love, especially for couples.

This is the day for people who wants to have a romantic relationship with somebody by expressing their feeling, through a special date and gift.

The symbol of heart and cupid shown in many forms of gifts. All stores and public places decorated with this pink and red heart symbol.

We can see that the love of St Valentine's is still alive in everybody's heart this day.