Every year during February, shades of reds, flowers, heart-shaped candies, balloons and chocolates of all flavors and shapes overwhelm the windows of shops across the country.

It's Valentines Day, the holiday of love and friendship and when the mythological Cupid roams around with its bow and arrow.

Valentine cards are the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, with Christmas being number one. About 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women, according to the Greeting Card Association.

Valentines Day also is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

The holiday's origin, according to historians, dates back as early as the third century in Rome when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage because he thought single men made better soldiers.

The story goes that a Christian priest, Valentine, continued to perform marriages in secret. When Valentine was found out, the Emperor ordered for Valentine to be put to death.

Supposedly another story claims Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who might have been the jailer's daughter. Before his death Valentine wrote her a letter that he signed "From your Valentine."

It's 11:45 in the morning and the crowd gathers for lunch at the Mower Senior Center. Pork roast, gravy and mashed potatoes are on the menu.

The cafeteria is ample with outside light coming through the windows.

Some couples sit with other couples, others sit with friends chatting away until their table gets the OK to head up to the line and get their meal.

Some are married, other single, widows or friends but without a doubt many recall memories of Valentine's Day while they were in country school.

"We all had a box covered with red paper, and everyone would drop a valentine into it. If someone really liked you, they gave you a sucker or a stick of gum. That meant that you were really special to them. That was true love," Fred Paulson remembered.

His friend across the table, Darlene King also remembered making the valentines and most of all she remembered her mother preparing cup cakes that she would delicately place on a lace mat and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Hilton attended grade school in the 1920s and 30s and he remember you could make your own valentines out of paper or buy them.

His wife Nadine and he now still celebrate it by going to a church event or dinner with friends.

"You're never too old for love," observed a woman in a purple beret decorated with intriguing pins. Her voice is lively and youthful and intrigued to learn of the topic of conversation.

"Yes indeed we made homemade valentines like a heart cut out of construction paper," said Renee LeBarron who sat across from Darrell Ashton.

"She is my sweetie pie," said Ashton of LeBarron as they both laugh in amusement at his statement.

Ashton said he doesn't get many valentines any more, but he probably has received some from LeBarron.

"We do help each other out and care about each other. We don't change," LeBarron said.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by :mailto:roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com