The romantic holiday of Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with chocolate, flowers, and cute stuffed animals holding hearts.

According to legend, Valentine’s Day was named after a martyred bishop who would secretly marry couples who weren’t allowed to marry. After he was discovered, Valentine was executed on February 14th and joined the ranks of sainthood, as the patron saint of lovers.

The original message of romantic love has since been expanded, with Valentine’s Day becoming a day on which to express all kinds of love to people you care about. In the 19th century, it became popular to send Valentine’s Day cards to loved ones.

These handwritten notes soon became mass-produced greeting cards, clearing the way for even more material displays of affection, including candy and the aforementioned stuffed animals.

Has the initial meaning of Valentine’s Day been lost? After all, it seems like if you truly love someone, you should express it yourself, rather than relying on flowers to do the talking. However, Valentine’s Day remains a holiday about being with the ones you love. No amount of commercialization can change that. So go ahead, celebrate Valentine’s with all the chocolate and love you want. And remember to tell the people you care about how you feel- though letting them know year-round won’t hurt.