15 facts you never knew about Valentine’s DayGiving flowers, chocolate, and heart-shaped cards are all common customs on Valentine’s Day. But why do we bother with these traditions anyway?By Claire Nowakprevious2 of 15nextView as list2. Why we call people “Valentine”Getty ImagesDon’t worry, there’s a good reason we call our sweethearts the name of a beheaded priest.Legend has it that when St. Valentine was in prison, he prayed with the daughter of one of his judges and cured her blindness.Before his execution, he wrote her a letter, signing it “From your Valentine.” Whether or not this was a romantic gesture is up for debate.Nevertheless, the signature caught on and is still used to show affection. Being single on Valentine's Day can be a drama-free blessing instead of an I-don't-want-to-die-alone-and-have-my-cats-eat-me curse.previous2 of 15nextView as listAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
