Valentine’s Day: The day where candy hearts, love letters and greeting cards are all tossed around like a salad. Gifts are bought in abundance, and pleasing promises are exchanged between lovers.

Every Feb. 14 the world celebrates this day devoted to passion and love, all in the name of Saint Valentine.

However, when people think about Valentine’s Day, their minds probably go to the tried and true major corporation spiels like red roses, chocolates and sappy Valentine’s cards.

“What I can say is that this holiday has become commercialized and is a Hallmark holiday, said 20-year-old engineering major Kyle Mongillo. It has evolved from what was a spiritual day into a day of profit for card and chocolate companies.”

Despite the rampant commercialism it has evolved into, like most holidays, there is a unique meaning behind this celebration.

According to AmericanCatholic.org, the origins of St. Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15.

For years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus, the ancient Roman god of fertility. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery. Once the name was drawn, this young man would be romantically linked with that young woman for the following year.

As Ancient Roman religion gave way to Catholicism, however, some changes were made to the holiday. In an effort to Christianize the pagan celebration, Pope Gelasius I changed the lottery to have both young men and women draw the names of saints whom they would then have to mimic or act like for the year. This is a change that most likely disappointed a few young men. Instead of Lupercus, the patron of the feast became Valentine.

Despite this change, the day continued to be an occasion to seek out the affections of women. It became a tradition to give out handwritten messages of admiration and appreciation that included Valentine’s name, hence “From your Valentine”- an expression that is still widely used today.

This year, the Greeting Card Association anticipates more than 145 million greeting cards will be purchased for Valentine’s Day alone in the U.S., placing Valentine’s Day as the second-largest holiday for giving greeting cards, after Christmas.

“It’s a holiday about loving someone, not about receiving cards and presents said Bucks student Julia Flynn, 20, a radiology major from Fairless Hills. These days Valentine’s Day is too materialistic.”

Despite the varying feelings towards the holiday, Valentine’s Day has come a long way since its beginnings in Roman paganism, its adoption by the Catholic Church and the traditions observed through the Middle Ages.

One thing has continually stayed the same, and true to meaning after all these years. Throughout the centuries Valentines Day has stood for being romantic and passionate, enjoying time with your loved ones, and remembering what really counts.

Mongillo agreed, “It’s upsetting that its original meaning has been lost but personally, I don’t mind the holiday either way. After all who doesn’t love chocolate?”