The world salutes St Valentine

The patron saint of lovers, it is said, lived in Rome in the third century. And we know he was much revered.

Eighteen centuries later, the reverence for him has grown million times over -- thanks to discovery of his commercial potential -- and he is remembered in all corners of the world. From Honolulu to Shanghai and Vladivostok to Buenos Aires, folks mark Valentine's Day.

A peek at the global celebrations:

In the picture: Jun Kobayashi, of Japan's Mary Chocolate, displays a chocolate portrait of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece -- the Mona Lisa. It weighs 13 kg and is on display at Tokyo's Isetan department store.

Photograph : Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

Also See: Valentine's Day Special