It's that time of year again, when the air is charged with love, and the shops are filled with chocolates, flowers, hearts and other clichés! Valentine's Day meaning differs from person to person. While for some it's a day for mushy expressions of love for a significant other, for others it's an opportunity to show all their loved ones how much they care.

There are a lot of stories about why Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. Some say it originated in a Roman pagan feast called Lupercalia when young men drew lots to choose their partners for the year. Others say the day is celebrated in memory of Saint Valentine. While history associates at least three Christian martyrs, all of them named Valentine, with February 14, most people dedicate the day to the priest who served in Rome during the 3rd century.

Saint Valentine is believed to have faithfully spread the message of God in spite of strict orders by Emperor Claudius II that only Caesar was to be worshiped. Perhaps the stress on love came about because Valentine continued to secretly conduct weddings in his Church, despite the emperor's decree banning all engagements and weddings in order to ensure his soldiers' dedication to war. It is said that Valentine, while imprisoned by Claudius, gave eyesight to the jailer's blind daughter through his prayers, and before being executed, he sent her a letter signed 'From your Valentine' - the World is still divided on whether this was a love letter or one extolling the praise of God.

For those of you who want to spend a special evening with a loved one, we suggest you take a break from the usual heart-shaped box of candy, bouquet of red roses, and candlelight dinner at an expensive restaurant routine, and look at a more personalised celebration.