Valentine’s Day, the calendar year’s most popular romantic holiday, is nearly here. People use this day to impress their loved ones and express their love for someone special. Others dread this day and don’t look forward to it because of the simple fact that they may not have a valentine.

The holiday has an interesting historical origin. Valentine was a priest during a period in the Roman Empire when marriage between young people was prohibited by dictate of the Emperor. The prohibition was based on the notion that young men were better suited to act as soldiers and that married soldiers would be too concerned for their wives. Valentine gained the disfavor of authorities because he continued to perform marriages. For this belief in love, he was eventually imprisoned and executed. When his birth date was made a saint’s day, romantic acts began to be associated with it. To celebrate his holiday on the calendar, young Romans began to send cards of affection to each other. His feast day was February 14 and this became the Valentine’s Day we know today.

So what do people do today to celebrate the day? And – more specifically – what are North Atlanta students doing to honor the traditions started back in the Roman Empire days? Informal surveys around the school prove the following: Some Warriors are “all in” when it comes to celebrating love and affection. Since the day falls on Saturday, students won’t be in school to show their love. Senior Quinecia Duffy said she and her boyfriend will spend the weekend with each other. “I want to surprise him with a gift he will really enjoy,” she said.

Senior Myles Jenkins said he was going to get his girlfriend a huge teddy bear and a box of candy.

Kelsey Perkins, Nadja Jones and Jordan Washington have decided to ditch the traditional custom and are going out to see romance on the big screen. The trio of seniors is going to see the premiere of the racy movie “Fifty Shade of Grey.” They said seeing this movie-going endeavor will be an all-girls event.

Senior Jose Rodriguez plans to treat himself to a day filled with chocolate and a relaxing time at a spa. “Let’s face it: Your relationship with yourself will never fail you. So I’m going to celebrate my eternal love of chocolate on Valentine’s Day,” he said.

The day has an interesting history. And on a day when Cupid and love reigns, there are plenty of interesting ways that North Atlanta students celebrate Valentine’s Day.