February has long been a month of romance and celebrations of love – perhaps because the cold weather makes it a good time to snuggle up with a special someone to get warm. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, come from elements of both Christian and ancient Greco-Roman tradition.

One legend centers around the third century Roman priest named Valentine. During his time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, so he outlawed marriage for young men – just in case they were needed as soldiers. Valentine, who believed this to be both foolish and unjust, defied Claudius and secretly performed marriages for young lovers. He was, of course, discovered, and Claudius ordered his immediate execution. (Lying never really works.)

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'Valentine' greeting while in prison. Rumor has it that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who happened to be his jailor's daughter. Before his death, he wrote her a love note, which he signed 'From your Valentine,” which is still how many lovers sign their notes to their beloved – at least on Valentine’s day.

With such drama and romance, it’s no wonder that Saint Valentine became the patron saint of lovers, but even the strength of the myth could not replace the beloved figure, Cupid, who predated Valentine.

Cupid is often pictured as a cherubic flying baby with a bow and arrow. It is said that one poke of Cupids lovely arrow, properly placed, would render the recipient forever in love with the next person they saw. This character existed in both Greek and Roman mythology. In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love. In Greek mythology, he is known as Eros, and is the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.