Whether you're a fan of Valentine’s Day or not, you won't be able to escape it—especially if you live in the Philippines. Commercial establishments are decked in red hearts, restaurants offer special Valentine’s Day menus, and boxes of chocolates fly off the shelves.

But how exactly did February 14 become the day for celebrating romance? Read on to learn more about this polarizing holiday.

Many have theorized that Valentine’s Day was a Christianized version of Lupercalia, an ancient pagan festival that was celebrated mid-February in Rome. One of the fertility rituals done during the festival involved Roman priests whipping women with hide from newly-sacrificed goats. Males also picked a woman’s name out of a jar, and the two would be coupled for the entire festival.

During the early centuries, Valentine was a popular name. There are actually around a dozen Saint Valentines on record, but the one associated with Valentine’s Day is believed to have lived during the rule of Roman Emperor Claudius II. Believing marriage made warriors less effective in the battle, the emperor made weddings illegal. After Saint Valentine defied him by secretly marrying couples, the emperor had him executed on February 14.

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In 1375, the English poet wrote Parliament of Foules. Referring to February 14, he wrote, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” No prior record of the phrase “Valentine’s Day” has been found.

During the 1840s, Richard Cadbury had the idea of selling chocolates in heart-shaped boxes. The brand decided to market the boxes as something people should keep even after all the chocolates had been consumed. Until now, Victorian-era Cadbury boxes are kept as heirlooms and sought-after by collectors.

Also introduced during the Victorian Era were “Vinegar Valentines,” or cards that carried insults and other hurtful words. These became popular in Britain and the United States. The insults pointed out perceived flaws, such as being bald, being ugly, or being a showoff. Some of the cards were also used to ward off persistent suitors.

Visit Shakespeare's Globe, a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre.

In South Korea and Japan, traditionally, females gift males with chocolates on February 14. On March 14, or what is called White Day, men who received chocolates on Valentine’s Day show they reciprocate the sender’s love by giving her white gifts like marshmallows and white chocolate. Koreans remembered the single people, too, giving them Black Day, which is on April 14. Those who did not get gifts on Valentine’s Day and White Day wear head-to-toe black and eat black bean sauce noodles.

Declare your endless love by adding your own love locks at the top of N Seoul Tower.