Today is Valentine’s Day — the day of love, the day of romance.

Though most people living in the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Canada and Australia are familiar with the holiday, many may not necessarily be familiar with its origins.

That the holiday is named after St. Valentine is not disputed. However, which St. Valentine is. There were three Valentines, each of them saints, and all of them were persecuted for defying the emperor of Rome. One performed marriages for young lovers in secret after Claudius II outlawed marriage for single men, claiming that single men made better soldiers. That Valentine was put to death for his dedication to love. Another Valentine was also beheaded by Claudius II and still another is thought to have been imprisoned for helping Christians escape Roman persecution which landed him in jail. While there, he wrote a letter to his sweetheart, signed “From your Valentine.”

While the origins of Valentine’s Day’s namesake may be lost to time, the origin of the mid-February celebration is not. Like many holidays that have been passed down through the centuries, the day was a special one for earlier people: it marked Lupercalia, a Pagan fertility festival.

Today, Valentine’s Day doesn’t look so different from the mid-1700s, when it became popular for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection, however, it is unlikely those of that era spent an estimated $1 billion on Valentine’s Day cards each year, as is the case now. This is in addition to the $1.9 billion spent on flowers and $1.7 billion on chocolate and candy.

That’s a lot, but if you’re going to invest in love, why not make the holiday last longer than a single day; why not celebrate love every day?

BOUQUET EVERY DAY

Why should anyone settle for a dazzling bouquet of red roses once a year, when fresh flowers can be purchased any time? While local florists appreciate the support of those buying arrangements, a bouquet can do the same. In the spring, summer and fall, Petals and Produce in Washington and Yeatesville has buckets full of peonies, zinnias and sunflowers depending on the season and all grown right here. The same can be said for the Washington Harbor District Market — local farmers bringing their locally grown flowers to market. Even in the winter, a bouquet of flowers can be picked up from your favorite grocery store.

Think about using smaller vases to spread the flowery cheer, rather than put all your flowers in one vase. A couple of blooms in a small vase adds a bit a romance to any room, any time of the year. Cutting the stems, even if only a little, will prolong life when you first put them in water and each time you change the water.

DEVOTION ON DISPLAY

There are many ways to say, “I love you.” While flowers may fade and candy be eaten, a piece of home décor might just serve as a lovely reminder of that commitment every day. Whether it’s decorative pillows embroidered with an expression of love or a piece of art that tugs at the heart strings, local stores abound with more tangible illustrations of devotion.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Love affects all senses. And all senses affect those feel-good moments. The sense of smell is very closely linked to mood and emotions, and in most instances, good scents boost the mood. Scented candles can help boost your emotional well-being — and a better mood is a great gift to give to your loved one.