Saint-Valentin

About Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, observed on February 14 each year, is a celebration of romantic love, affection, and companionship. It is one of the most widely recognised secular holidays in the world, marked by the exchange of greeting cards, flowers, chocolates, and heartfelt gestures between loved ones.

While the holiday is most closely associated with romantic partnerships, it has broadened in recent decades to encompass expressions of love for friends, family members, and even pets. In many countries, Valentine's Day is a major commercial event, with billions spent annually on cards, gifts, dining, and travel.

Valentine's Day is not a public holiday in most countries, but its cultural influence is enormous. It is celebrated enthusiastically across North America, Europe, East Asia, and Latin America, and has spread to many other regions through globalisation and popular media.

History & Origins

The holiday takes its name from Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr of the 3rd century. Historical records are unclear — there were at least two early Christian saints named Valentine, both of whom were executed by the Roman Empire. One legend holds that a priest named Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II's ban on marriages for young soldiers, secretly performing wedding ceremonies and earning his martyrdom. The Catholic Church recognises the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14.

The association of Valentine's Day with romantic love began in the Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer's poem Parliament of Foules (1382) is one of the earliest literary references linking the day with courtship. By the 18th century, it had become common in England and France to exchange hand-written notes and tokens of affection on February 14. The mass production of printed Valentine's cards began in the early 19th century, and the holiday grew steadily into the global celebration it is today.

How It's Celebrated

• Greeting cards — Valentine's cards ("valentines") are exchanged between partners, friends, and classmates. Approximately 145 million Valentine's cards are sent each year in the United States alone.
• Flowers & chocolates — Red roses are the quintessential Valentine's gift. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates have been a staple since the 1860s, when Cadbury introduced them.
• Romantic dinners — Restaurants see one of their busiest nights of the year as couples dine out to celebrate.
• Proposals & weddings — February 14 is one of the most popular dates for marriage proposals and weddings worldwide.
• Galentine's Day & friendship — Popularised by the TV show Parks and Recreation, Galentine's Day (February 13) celebrates platonic friendships, especially among women.
• Cultural variations — In Japan, women give chocolates to men on February 14, and men reciprocate on White Day (March 14). In Finland, the day is called Ystävänpäivä (Friendship Day).