St. Valentine's day 2/14

14 FEBRUARY

This feast was established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I and takes its name from San Valentino da Terni.

Probably it is geared on the previous pagan festival of ancient Rome: the "Lupercalia".

The current way of celebration of the feast, looks back to the high middle ages, when it was focused on the exchange of love messages and gifts between lovers, and may be in particular due to the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer (father of English literature).

The benedictines, and their monasteries, especially in England and France, contributed much to its spread, since they were guardians of the basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni in the second half of the VII century.