This holiday is a mixture of Christian and pagan legends.
Although many legends were born around San Valentine, the truest one might be the following:
Valentine was a man of Church living in Rome at the very beginning of the years of Christianity.
Emperor Claudius II ordered his soldiers not to marry nor to get engaged, fearing they might prefer staying at home instead than following him at war.
Valentine did not obey the Emperor’s law and secretly married many young couples.
He was finally arrested and sentenced to death on the 14th of February, 270 a.C.
This is the reason why Valentine is remembered as protector of the lovers.
