Behind every heart-shaped card and bouquet of roses lies a captivating history filled with intriguing facts about Valentine’s Day. From ancient legends to modern-day celebrations, this article takes a look at the rich traditions and surprising truths that define this global holiday.

Each Valentine's Day, millions of Americans gift their partners or loved ones with flowers, cards or candy as a token of their affections on Feb. 14. But while some see it as a commercialized "Hallmark holiday,

While historians have long debated the holiday's origin story, evidence shows it predates the existence of commercial greeting cards by centuries.