Q: Our family's favorite celebration is Valentine's Day. Every year, we find a way to gather and celebrate our love and care for one another and enjoy a more relaxed time compared to the major holidays.

Of course, we also enjoy the chocolates and flowers.

I have never taken the time to learn much about the history of Valentine's Day, and I am interested to know more. Can you share some information?

A: Valentine's Day is not federally regulated holiday, but it is celebrated on Feb. 14 in many countries. You may be surprised to find that the day has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

The exact origin is unknown, but the most popular legend is about a priest who lived during the Roman Empire and married Christians in secret, as they were persecuted and stigmatized by the Roman state. The Catholic Church created a feast day to honor two men named Valentine who were martyred. Many also believe it to be connected to the Roman festival Lupercalia. Surprisingly, some believe the holiday became popularly associated with romance only after Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century book "The Canterbury Tales."

The holiday becomes more popular every year. According to Hallmark, approximately 114 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged industry-wide annually, and that doesn't include packaged valentines for kids' classroom exchanges.

Some of the most popular poems and greetings include:

—You are the sunshine of my life.

—Thank you for caring and sharing our lives.

—I will be forever yours.

—You are my best friend and companion.

My favorite nursery rhythm is one from the book "Gammer Gurton's Garland," which reads:

"The rose is red, the violet's blue,

"The honey's sweet, and so are you.

"Thou art my love, and I am thine,

"I drew thee to my Valentine."

I hope you share this information with your loved ones. — Doug

THE PERFECT VALENTINE

Q: My wife died four years ago, and I've only just started dating this last year. I met a wonderful woman and am going to celebrate Valentine's Day with her. It will be my first celebration of the holiday in a long time.

I've made reservations at a restaurant, but I want to make sure we have a good time. Any suggestions?

A: For every holiday and celebration, it's important to manage your expectations. If your expectations are either too concrete or too lax, you'll struggle to plan something you both will enjoy.

Take your date's preferences into account. Does she enjoy formal occasions, or a more casual setting? What kind of food does she like? How long have you been dating, and how serious is the relationship?

Additionally, figure out what to do about gifts. Avoid any awkwardness by agreeing on whether to exchange presents. No matter how great the gift, someone will feel embarrassed if they weren't expecting it and don't have something to offer in return.

Don't stress about the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day. Plan a day that suits the both of you. Every relationship is unique, so you should adapt the holiday to your preferences, not the other way around.

Happy Valentine's Day! — Emma, Doug's granddaughter

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at [email protected]. Emma, Doug's granddaughter, helps write this column. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.