When and where did valentine's day begin?

Valentine's Day originated in ancient Rome, where it was celebrated on February 15 as the feast of Lupercalia, a fertility festival. The day was later associated with Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr, around the 5th century. By the Middle Ages, it evolved into a day for romantic love, particularly in England and France, where it became linked to the idea of courtly love. The modern celebration of Valentine's Day as we know it began to take shape in the 18th century.