From what I understand, there was an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, which essentially worshiped females because of their ability to reproduce (or some such thing). The Christian after-effects relate to Christian martyrs, the most popular being a guy from Rome named Valentine who was imprisoned and people who loved him tossed cards through prison bars on his birthday saying such after he was arrested. Interestingly enough, the romantic version of Valentine's Day came from an author named Chaucer, and the rest, so sayeth somebody, is history.
Personally, what with all the other holidays and traditions that make February (including the birth dates of several people I know rather personally, jk), it's a love month -- and one can love a lover, a family member, a friend, a neighbor's child, a pet, and - yes, it's true - one can even love a dream...
(so how's it goin' Math Piglet, who can read itsy bitsy print? thx for helping out!)