Love filled the air in the hallways of State High this week, as the annual holiday for compassion and affection neared. This year, Valentine’s Day was celebrated a variety of ways. Vocal Valentines spread the love by serenading students upon their request. Some people went on dates, and some people chose to just spend it with their family.

Despite the intended happy feeling this holiday is supposed to bring, some people have negative associations with this day. “If you’re single it sucks, if you’re in a relationship you have to buy a gift,” said Caden Buxton, sophomore. Nevertheless, Valentine’s Day is not strictly for couples, and can be spent with people you care about, like friends and family. Sophomore Katerina Campagnolo chimed, “I think it’s a nice time to spend with people you really care about! I picked up a puppy for my dad’s colleague on Valentine’s Day this year, she was so cute!” Whether you care about being in the company of loved ones or not, as Jason Gines said, “Valentine’s Day is important because we can get chocolate on sale.”

The actual origins of this holiday date back to circa 496. Most scholars believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. According to one legend, Claudius II had prohibited marriage for young men, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers. Valentine continued to secretly perform marriage ceremonies but was eventually apprehended by the Romans and put to death. Another legend has it that Valentine, imprisoned by Claudius, fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he was executed, he allegedly sent her a letter signed “from your Valentine.”