Saint Valentine

(From The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2000, available in Kids InfoBits.)

Valentine, Saint, d. c.270, Roman martyr priest. The customs connected with him in English-speaking countries are probably a survival from a period when a pagan festival associated with love occurred about Feb. 14, which was his feast day until it was dropped from the liturgical calendar in 1969. He is now popularly considered the patron of lovers and the helper of those unhappily in love.