Note to boyfriends and girlfriends and husbands and wives: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

As we plan to show our affection for loved ones on Friday, it might be of interest to know that Valentine’s Day is celebrated all around the world. But what is the history of Valentine`s Day? Moreover, what does Cupid have to do with the Feb. 14 holiday?

St. Valentine`s Day has roots in several different legends that came to us through the centuries. One of the legends is about Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest. Three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ, the Roman emporers still wanted people to believe in the Roman gods. A Christian priest, Valentine, was thrown in jail for his teachings about Jesus.

On February 14, 278 A.D., Valentine was beheaded because he was Christian and also because he performed a miracle, according to the Ascension Research Center.

According to the legend, Valentine assumedly cured the jailer’s daughter of her blindness. The night before he was put to death, Valentine wrote the jailer’s daughter a farewell letter, signing it “From Your Valentine.” That is why a lot of cards that are given to loved ones on Valentine`s Day are signed “From Your Valentine.”

Another famous character associated with love and Valentine’s Day is Cupid. According to the website Mythical Creatures Guide, Cupid is derived from the Latin word “cupido,” which means “desire.” In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. In Greek mythology, he was known as Eros and was the son of Aphrodite.

According to Roman mythology, Cupid, the son of Venus, was known to cause people to fall in love by shooting them with his magical arrows. That is where symbols such as bow and arrows come from. But Cupid did not just cause others to fall in love; he himself fell deeply in love.

As legend has it, Cupid fell madly in love with Psyche despite his mother`s jealousy over Psyche’s beauty. While he married her, he also told her never to look at him. That is why Cupid visited her only at night. Sisters of Psyche convinced her to look at her husband despite his warning. One night she decided to light a lamp so she could see him. Psyche did not keep the promise, so Cupid left her. Psyche wandered wantonly for a time, searching for Cupid in vain.

Psyche happened upon the temple of Venus, Cupid`s mother (remember, she was jealous of Psyche`s beauty). Venus, wishing to destroy her, gave Psyche a series of risky and dangerous tasks, all of which she passed with a bit of help from ants and river gods. Her final task was to deliver a little box to the underworld and get some of the beauty of Proserpine (wife of Pluto). She was warned not to open the box. But again, curiosity overcame her and she opened the box.

There was nothing in the box but deadly slumber (do not worry; there is a happy ending). Cupid found out what was going on and ordered Venus to stop her persecution of Psyche, but it was too late. Cupid, who really loved Psyche, came upon her lifeless body. He forgave Psyche and gathered the deadly sleep back into the box. The gods then made Psyche a goddess.

That is how Cupid has a relation to Valentine`s Day. He and his bow and arrows are the most recognizable symbols of love. Still there are many different legends related to Cupid and St. Valentine. We do not know the most reliable story about the origin of this holiday, as all the sources have different version of how St. Valentine`s Day was originated. Yet, these two legends are the most popular and enigmatic in the history of St. Valentine`s Day.