Other Valentines (who were also martyrs) became confused with the afore-mentioned  Valentine and/ or  was forgotten.

As legend has it, Cupid fell in love with a mortal maiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but Venus, jealous of Psyche's beauty, forbade her daughter-in-law to look at Cupid. Psyche, of course, couldn't resist temptation and sneaked a peek at her handsome husband. As punishment, Venus demanded that she perform three hard tasks, the last of which caused Psyche's death.

Cupid brought Psyche back to life and the gods, moved by their love, granted Pysche immortality. Cupid thus represents the heart and Psyche the (struggles of the) human soul.

*8 billion Conversation Hearts are produced a year.

*They are manufactured in Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Louisiana. 

*2001 will bring new Sweetheart sayings selected from Seventeen magazine (First Kiss) and American Girl reader.

*To make Valentine's  even sweeter and a lot fresher,ULTRA mint Kiss Me Sweetheart will be launched in 2001.

*Sayings reserved especially for the new mint treat, will be "Ultra" and "Kiss Me." 

*The fat-free, sodium-free candies contain approximately three calories per small heart and six calories per large heart. 

*Since the turn-of-the-century, more than 250 billion Sweethearts brand Conversation Hearts have rolled off the production lines.

*Europeans were introduced to the drink in the 17th century..dropped the chilies and added sugar.

*Chocolate became indulgencies of Seventeenth century 'Social Elite'.  "Chocolate houses' sprang up everywhere.

*Solid chocolate became popular in the 1800's.  The first chocolate bars were just tablets of coarse-ground chocolate and sugar. 

*Dutch settlers who brought chocolate to the American colonies. 

*In 1765, a man named Baker started a chocolate mill near Boston.

*Fry & Sons discovered a way to make chocolate edible in 1847.

*Cadbury Brothers discovered a means of making eating chocolate much smoother and less bitter. Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped Valentine's Day boxed candy sometime around 1870.

Upon the death of this Bishop Valentine a great feast was proclaimed to honor him by the Roman Catholic Church May 3rd.

May 3rd was also the last day of the Roman (pagan) "Floralia" (Flower) festival. The goddess Flora, in whose honor the Floralia were held, had a colorful career.  She is the goddess of fertility in the fields and bestows honey by calling winged creatures (birds and insects) to the flowers. She also presides over youths whose bodies are flourishing. The Floralia festivities were characterized by flowers, frolics and flirtations. 

So it was to Bishop Valentine that Chaucer dedicated his floral fantasies. Unfortunately, he never actually pointed that out, so his contemporaries shrugged their collective shoulders and followed suit in bestowing blossoms to the more famous St. Valentine born almost 40 years earlier.  Soon, flowers and Valentine's Day were forever linked, 500 years before they could actually come together. 

To celebrate the holiday in the Victorian way I have designed a few 'guestbook calling cards' for you.  Click below on the link and pick out your card...no link required...just be sure to spread Valentine's message.