POET Rupi Kaur once wrote, “To hate is an easy, lazy thing, but to love takes strength.” Love is the greatest and purest gift we could have ever received, and it takes a lot to keep it going.

As Valentine’s Day comes around, it is important that we know that there is no greater feeling than that of love. Although February has always been known as the month of romance, February 14 has for hundreds of years been known as Valentine’s Day, or St Valentine’s Day. It is a day when persons show their love and appreciation for their partners through a number of romantic gestures.

While the origin of this romantic day is not really known, there is a legend (one of many legends) that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.

Valentine realised the injustice of the decree, and went against Claudius. He continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others believe that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the day dedicated to lovers. He too was beheaded by Claudius II outside of Rome.

Notably, the Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

It is also believed that it derives from the Roman Festival of Lupercalia, held mid-February. Pope Gelasius, at the end of the fifth century declared February 14 as St Valentine’s Day. However, it was not until the 14th century that it was celebrated as a day of romance.

Today, there are thousands of Valentine’s Day traditions that are replicated in the United States, Europe and other parts of the world. One of the more popular traditions is ‘letters addressed to Juliet.’ Annually, thousands of romantics send letters addressed to Verona, Italy to “Juliet,” one of the main characters in the timeless romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet.”

The city marks the location of the tale, and the letters that reach the city are answered by a team of volunteers from the Juliet Club. Each year, on Valentine’s Day, the club awards the “Cara Giulietta” (“Dear Juliet”) prize to the author of the most touching love letter.