There are many types of love and they all should be celebrated at least once a year, if not much more often. We have the love of our spouse, our family, our friends, our pets and many others including our God. That is how Valentine's Day began as a Christian holiday.

There are conflicting accounts but most historians agree that in the third century a priest was jailed in a Roman prison for secretly marrying soldiers without the permission of the empire. Roman soldiers were not allow to marry while in the infantry ranks. A brigade priest, named Valentine, was imprisoned for this violation.

While in prison the priest fell in love with one of his visitors and began writing letters to her. The imprisoned priest supposedly sent the woman a letter before his execution that he signed off, "From your Valentine." That is how Valentine's Day was named for a martyred St. Valentine.

Valentine's Day cards

The first Valentine's Day card was sent in 1415 by the Duke of Orléans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Esther Howland (1828–1904) was an artist and entrepreneur who was responsible for popularizing Valentine's Day greeting cards in America.

About 145 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged in the United States each year, according to Hallmark. This number doesn't include the many packaged cards that kids give in classrooms

Valentine's Day Flowers

Globally, around 250 million flower stems are sold on Valentine's Day, with one-third being roses, one-third tulips, and the remaining third other flowers. 

LOCAL VALENTINE SPECIALS:

Cotton’s Restaurant Orange Beach is inviting couples to make Valentine’s dinner a little more indulgent with a special menu of coastal favorites. Guests can enjoy slow oven‑roasted prime rib, lobster tail and scallops in a rich lemon herb butter, or the broiled catch of the day topped with Cotton’s house‑made lobster cream sauce, all crafted for a romantic night out by the beach. To finish on a sweet note, featured desserts include chocolate crème brûlée and a heart‑shaped brownie, perfect for sharing with someone special. Click here for more information.

Rouses Markets is helping shoppers prepare a Valentine’s celebration at home with specials on classic date‑night essentials. Shoppers can pick up a dozen fresh roses for $19.97, USDA Prime whole beef tenderloin for $17.99 per pound, and one‑pound containers of fresh strawberries for $1.98. The ad also features fresh live lobster for $17.99 per pound with free steaming, Rouses butter at two for $5, and 16‑ounce pints of Blue Bell ice cream for $2.88, making it easy to create a romantic surf‑and‑turf dinner and dessert without breaking the bank. Click herefor more information.

Coastal Arts Center in Orange Beach: The celebration kicks off early with the Four A Change Valentine’s Concert on Friday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Arts Center. This event has SOLD OUT. Click here for more information. 

The Hangout in Gulf Shores, located at 101 E Beach Blvd, is turning Valentine’s Day into a high‑energy celebration with the Sea Turtle Half Marathon and a full morning of races. The half-marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, and features a fast, flat course that runs alongside white-sand beaches and turquoise Gulf waters, attracting athletes, runners, and families from across the Southeast. The Sweetheart 5K and 1‑mile Fun Run will follow at 9:00 a.m. and 9:05 a.m., giving participants of all ages a chance to join the fun. After the races, everyone is invited to a post-race after-party in The Hangout’s courtyard, where live music, craft beer, a hot pasta buffet, an awards ceremony, and kid-friendly games like giant Jenga, foosball, ping-pong, and foam parties keep the Valentine’s spirit going well into the day. Click here for more information. 

LuLu’s Gulf Shores is offering couples a free and festive way to celebrate love with its Tropical Re-Union Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony at 200 E 25th Ave in Gulf Shores. The unique Valentine’s gift invites spouses to renew their wedding vows on Saturday, February 14, with the ceremony starting at 2 p.m. Couples are encouraged to arrive early, as on-site registration begins at 11 a.m., and online registration is also available in advance. The romantic afternoon unfolds on LuLu’s private sandy beach and includes flowers for the bride, wedding cake, a champagne toast, photos, and a certificate of renewal to mark the occasion. Prizes will be awarded to couples who have been married the longest and the shortest and to those who arrive in the most festive attire, making the event both sentimental and fun for participants. Click here for more information. 

Tacky Jack’s in Orange Beach is turning up the romance with a special Valentine’s Menu built for two, available for lunch or dinner February 13–15. Diners can choose between the Mixed Grill for 2 at 54.99, which includes starters like soup of the day, gumbo, or a house or Caesar salad, followed by a shared entrée featuring salmon, grouper with chimichurri, or grilled shrimp with mango salsa, plus two sides and a shared slice of red velvet cheesecake. The Ribeye and Grouper Ponchartrain for 2 at 59.99 offers the same starter options but lets couples enjoy two entrées—a 12‑ounce ribeye and Grouper Ponchartrain—each with a side and a shared red velvet cheesecake to finish, creating a hearty, coastal‑inspired date night at a set price. Click here for more information. 

Tacky Jacks Fort Morgan presents a Valentine’s Menu available from Feb. 13–15, featuring hearty meals for two. The Mixed Grill for 2 is priced at $54.99 and includes a starter for each guest, with options including the soup of the day, gumbo, or a house or Caesar salad. The shared entrée may feature salmon with Pan Asian sauce, grouper with chimichurri, or grilled shrimp with mango salsa. Guests can also upgrade to a six-ounce ribeye for an additional charge. Each meal includes two sides and concludes with a shared slice of red velvet cheesecake. Additionally, Tacky Jacks offers a Ribeye and Grouper Ponchartrain for 2 at $59.99, which includes a starter per person, two main courses—12-ounce ribeye and Grouper Ponchartrain—a side per guest, and a shared dessert. This menu caters to couples seeking a classic steak-and-seafood dinner with a sweet ending. Click here for more information.

Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores: From February 13–15, join us for lunch or dinner and enjoy a specially crafted Valentine’s Menu designed to share. Start with comforting soup, gumbo, or a fresh salad, savor perfectly prepared seafood and steak entrées, and finish the night with a decadent red velvet cheesecake made for two. Whether it’s date night, an early celebration, or a romantic weekend meal, let us set the table for love. Tacky Jacks in Gulf Shores is also planning a pet-friendly way to celebrate the holiday with its annual Smooch-A-Pooch event on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests are invited to bring their four-legged family members for an afternoon of tail wags, wet noses, and heartwarming fun, complete with a special food and drink menu, a playful pupper kissing booth for photos, and, weather permitting, a live DJ and raffle. The highlight of the event is the chance to get a big smooch from Sea Paws Dog Resort’s own Skippy, making the outing as entertaining for pet parents as it is for their pups. Organizers encourage guests to bring their pup, their sweetheart, and their appetite to enjoy a free, beachside Valentine’s outing that promises to be pawsitively perfect. Click here for more information.

Doc’s Seafood and Steaks on Perdido Beach Blvd in Orange Beach offers a Valentine’s Weekend Menu from Feb. 13–15, starting at 4 p.m. and lasting until close each night. Appetizers include Doc’s Love Bites for $9.99, featuring seared Ahi tuna with cucumber, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and wasabi, along with crab and shrimp stuffed mushrooms at $7.99. Main dishes range from a Surf-N-Turf platter at $46.99, with a six-ounce filet mignon, grilled shrimp scampi skewer, duchess potatoes, and caramelized shredded Brussels sprouts, to a blackened triple tail entrée at $22.99 served with lemon beurre blanc, crushed golden potatoes, and rainbow carrots. Dessert options include strawberry-banana pudding at $6.99 and a chocolate tuxedo bomb at $8.99. Click here to visit Doc’s Seafood & Steaks website.

Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar is also offering a Valentine’s Menu featuring Gulf seafood and comfort-style Italian dishes crafted for the holiday. Starters include a shrimp cocktail at 18, made with jumbo Gulf shrimp and house-made cocktail sauce, and a whipped ricotta, tomato, and bacon crostini at 10, topped with slow-cooked tomato and bacon chutney and drizzled with hot honey. Entrees include a lamb ragu at 24, served with pappardelle pasta, and a bronzed red snapper at 36, served with panko-fried Parmesan risotto cakes, sautéed green beans, and cherry gastrique. For dessert, guests can finish with a chocolate-covered strawberry cheesecake at 8, set on an Oreo crust with fresh strawberries and chocolate ganache. Click here for more information.

Cobalt The Restaurant is creating its own Valentine’s Menu, highlighting rich appetizers, seafood, and steak, along with suggested wine pairings. The appetizer list features lamb meatballs at 16, served with creamy pesto gnocchi, and tea-smoked duck at 14, served with a plum reduction and carrot purée. Entrees include oven-roasted prime rib at 44, plated with smoked leek mashed potatoes, pecan brown sugar-glazed roasted Brussels sprouts, and horseradish chive crème fraîche, as well as blackened scallops at 40 served with lobster mac and cheese, corn and Conecuh salad, and limoncello vinaigrette. Dessert options include a martini cheesecake at 8, layered with milk chocolate, strawberry, and espresso, and a strawberry sponge cake at 8, topped with pistachio mascarpone icing, ruby chocolate mousse, and Meyer lemon jam. Click here for more information.

Flora-Bama Lounge will host Sugarcane Jane, who will deliver a romantic soundtrack of their songs on Valentine’s Day with a special afternoon performance in the Main Room. The Valentine Show is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, with music from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., providing couples and special friends a relaxed way to celebrate the holiday on the beach. Click here for more information.

Big Beach Brewing in Gulf Shores is also turning Valentine’s Day into an all-day celebration built around live music, craft beer, and even puppy love. Join us for some Valentine’s Day fun! Whether you’re celebrating with your partner, a Galentine’s Day, or yourself! Take home your furrrrever valentine. On February 14 from 2 to 5 p.m., the brewery will host a Zeke’s Rescued Paws pet adoption event, giving guests a chance to meet their future furry Valentine and learn more at ZekesRescuedPaws.org. Later that evening, from 5 to 9 p.m., Billy Bones will take the stage for a set filled with saxophone and harmonica, bringing smooth, soulful energy to the taproom as visitors bring a date, a group of friends, or simply enjoy the mix of live tunes and adoptable pets on their own. Click here to visit the Big Beach Brewing website.