Valentine’s Day is this Sunday on Feb.14, 2016 and student’s at Smoky Hill are celebrating in different ways.

According to History .com, Valentine’s Day originally was a celebration of St. Valentine however, the catholic church recognizes three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One story says that Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome while another story alludes that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured.  

Another story says that Valentine was jailed and actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailer’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he allegedly wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England.

In modern times, sometimes it is taken as a celebration of love and appreciation.

“It means a day of love and just a day of showing appreciation for someone you really care about and show them that you really do care about them and a day of romance,” says junior Kyron Harbin.

Valentine’s Day also doesn’t have to mean being romantic with another person but celebrating love in general.

“[Valentine’s Day is] just like love,” says freshman Hayley Brinson, “but not..necessarily between two people.”

“My best Valentine’s Day was when my dad and stepmom got married, says freshman Chryssa Duran.” I’ve never had like a real [romantic] Valentine’s Day.”

However, junior Ahmed Ferjani has a different opinion. “[It means] forever alone,” Ferjani said. “In like 6th grade I walked in there [to class] and expected candy and I didn’t get any so I was like ugg.”  

“When I was younger probably because I didn’t get anything and I didn’t really talk to anybody. I didn’t have a lot of friends so nothing really got put in my box,” said Harbin in relation to Valentine’s day when he was kid.

For some, Valentine’s Day could bring up hurtful memories. “It was the first Valentine’s Day after my parent’s divorce and my dad had brought my mom flowers, says Brinson. “It just reminded me of their marriage.”

But bringing someone flowers could always be the highlight of someone’s day.

“I  always go to my mother and bring her flowers,” says Ferjani.

Student’s comment down below how you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day and what Valentine’s Day means to you.