Valentine's — without overreaching

February will always be known as the month for romance. Stores explode with red and pink, flowers and hearts, candies and cupids — all in the name of St. Valentine.

But how did commercialized hearts and candy become a holiday, and who is this Saint Valentine?

According to History.com, we celebrate Valentine's Day in February to commemorate the anniversary of the death or burial of Valentine.

The title can be attributed to at least three different saints named Valentine. One legend contends Valentine was a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II, who in the third century outlawed marriage for young men, by continuing to perform wedding ceremonies. When this was discovered, Valentine was put to death.

Another legend suggests Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they often were beaten and tortured.

A far stretch from today's valentines, the oldest known valentine in existence is a poem by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. Written in 1415, this poem is on display in the British Library in London.

Whether we will ever know the truth behind the legends, the stories certainly exemplify Valentine's appeal as sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic, making Valentine one of the most popular saints in England and France by the Middle Ages.

While many celebrate more out of obligation than anything, Valentine's Day still can be a wonderful opportunity to show compassion and appreciation for the people we love. More often than not, simple, heartfelt gestures are the best way to offer that gift of love.

So men, instead of waiting until the last minute on the way home from work Feb. 14 and then standing in line at the grocery store with flowers in one hand and a box of cheap chocolates in the other; and ladies, instead of spending too much money and dealing with the hassle of creating the perfect valentine while hoping — usually in vain — to receive the perfect valentine, here is a list of ways to celebrate Valentine's Day that just might earn you some brownie points with your better half.