1-148-873 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

'To My Valentine', American Valentine card, c1908. Cupid shoots an arrow into a heart held up by a putto. The words are surrounded by garlands of forget-me-nots (Myosotis palustris) and lucky four-leaved shamrock or wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), a symbol of Ireland. In Roman mythology Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love (Eros and Aphrodite in the Greek Pantheon). The identity of St Valentine is uncertain, the most popular candidates are Valentine, bishop of Terni (3rd century) or a Roman Christian convert martyred c270). St Valentine's Day, celebrated on 14 February, probably replaces the Roman pagan festival of Lupercalia.