Ahh, Valentine’s Day.  That happy day when lovers trade smooches and whispered endearments, lovestruck poets scribble sonnets in adoration of that special smile, and Romans strip naked, fetch dog-skin whips, and beat young maidens to ensure their fertility.

National Geographic has a short but informative article on the origins of Valentine’s Day which should prove enlightening to those who think the day is all about flowers and cinnamon hearts

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Valentine’s Day Facts: Gifts, History, and Love Science.