"Happy" belated Valentine's Day

From The Saint-a-Day Guide's entry on St. Valentine's Day:

"The association of this date with courtship may arise from the mid-February fertility festival of Lupercal, or from the medieval belief that the birds chose their mates on this day. 'Valentines' were originally cards inscribed with girls' names, which boys drew by lot. [Apparently for fertility purposes???] Saint Francis de Sales once attempted to improve this custom by substituting cards with the names of Saints to be emulated, but they didn't catch on."

Gee, imagine that! And from my "adopted" patron of all people!