February 14 was celebrated to honour one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentines during Medieval times. In High Middle Ages when the tradition of courtly love flourished, Geoffrey Chauser wrote in Parliament of Foules:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day, When euery bryd comyth there to chese his make (For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate)
This was written to honour the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. From then on, this day is associated with romantic love.
This day was commercialized in 1797 when a British publisher issued The