Hearts, flowers, chocolates, romantic meals and of course lots and lots of cards!

HOWEVER you choose to show your sweetheart (whether they know it or not) how you feel, there’s no escaping Valentine’s Day, just around the corner.

For many, February 14th is the most romantic day of the year, celebrated all over the world, yet Ireland has its own link to St Valentine who has his own shrine in the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar Street.

So while there’s no definitive written account of St. Valentine and his life in the third century, his Irish connection is more recent - and documented.

In the year 1836, Pope Gregory XVI sent a gift to the Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street, Dublin, in recognition of the work of the church’s former prior, Father John Spratt, who was widely recognised as a very holy man.

The gift was a relic of a Christian martyr: a small gold-bound casket containing the earthly remains of St. Valentine. The relic had been exhumed from the cemetery of St. Hyppolytus on the Tiburtine Way in Rome, placed in a golden casket, and brought to Dublin, where it was enshrined in the little church with great ceremony.

Today, the Shrine is visited throughout the year by couples who come to pray to Valentine and to ask him to watch over them in their lives together. The feast day of the saint on February 14 is a very popular one and many couples come to the Eucharistic celebrations that day which also includes a Blessing of Rings for those about to be married.

On the feast day, the Reliquary is removed from beneath the side-altar and is placed before the high altar in the church and there venerated at the Masses. At the 11.00am and 3.15pm Masses there are special sermons and also a short ceremony for the Blessing of Rings for those about to be married.

In Ireland and Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes.

By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology.

While in our country and our nearest neighbours, it’s all hearts, flowers and secret cards, on other cultures different traditions are followed.

In other countries, though, Valentine’s Day involves way more commitment (and less commercialism).

France. Valentine’s Day originated in France during the middle ages. When birds began to mate halfway through the second month of the year, lovers considered this a sign and began exchanging love letters, beginning the cherished holiday.

Japan. On February 14th, women buy Hom-mei, a chocolate strictly for boyfriends and husbands. Women have to wait the whole month to receive their gift, which is usually white chocolate.

Canada. On Valentine’s Day, balls and parties are organised and thrown all over the country.

South Africa. Week long celebrations and parties take place in South Africa. Young girls celebrate the day by celebrating a tradition called “Lupercalia.” This tradition requires girls to pin the name of their lover on their sleeve.

India. Celebrating Valentine’s Day is a recent tradition here. Festivals are week-long and the day is hyped by television, newspapers and more.

Italy. Couples exchange flowers and chocolate along with more extravagant gifts such as perfume and diamonds.