== valentine clubs/fornication after drawing lots == 

  (ref- The Masks of God:Creative Mythology, Joseph Campbell, Penguin 1968, pp 158 - 167).   
 The above reference says that by the Middle Ages (11th century) there were Valentine Clubs in southern France. The valentine ceremonies bore some resemblence to rites that were practised by some cults of Hindus in India, indulging in the “Five Forbidden Things”. One of these being choosing a partner by drawing lots in various ways - lots may be articles of clothing, names on slips of paper etc. This practice was done by some early Christian sects also, hence a refernce to Valentinian Gnostics of 2nd to 4th century Alexandra (Valentinus the founder fl. 137-166AD). So these Valentine practices probably originated in Christianity in second century, or earlier. And continued right thru to 11th to 14th centuries.  
 The reading is good if you can get the book, but I'm not so good to write a summary for Wikipedia. Also, some of the reported practices are a bit gruesome, but undoubtedly totally relevant to Valentines Day.  
 The other book  
 The Troubadours, John Rutherford, 1861- can read online Cornell University library - http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924027291065/cu31924027291065_djvu.txt tells about Valentine Clubs and what they did. This one more light hearted. 
 All these activities were seen as Christian heresies by mainstream Church and people killed. 
 Hope someone can rewrite the Wiki entry.