When is Valentine's Day?

In Japan, Valentine's Day follows a distinctive two-stage custom. On February 14th, women give chocolate to men — both romantic partners and male colleagues or friends (called giri-choco, or obligation chocolate). One month later on White Day (March 14th), men reciprocate with gifts of white chocolate, candy, or jewellery, typically of greater value. South Korea follows the same pattern but adds a third date: Black Day (April 14th), when singles who received nothing on either day gather to eat jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) together.

In Finland, February 14th is called Ystavanpaiva (Friend's Day) and focuses on celebrating friendship rather than romance. Brazil does not celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th at all — instead, couples mark Dia dos Namorados (Lovers' Day) on June 12th, the eve of the feast of St. Anthony, the patron saint of marriage. In Wales, the traditional day for lovers is January 25th (Dydd Santes Dwynwen), honouring the Welsh patron saint of love, though many Welsh people also celebrate the global February 14th date.

Valentine's Day is celebrated every year on February 14th. The date is fixed and does not change from year to year. It is observed in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries as a day to express affection between romantic partners, friends, and family members.

The holiday takes its name from Saint Valentine of Rome, a third-century Christian martyr. Historical accounts of Saint Valentine are fragmentary and sometimes contradictory, but the most enduring legend holds that he was a priest who performed secret marriages for soldiers after Emperor Claudius II had banned them, believing unmarried men made better soldiers. Another account suggests Valentine sent a letter signed 'from your Valentine' to the jailer's daughter while imprisoned — an origin sometimes cited as the first valentine. The Catholic Church officially recognized Saint Valentine's feast day on February 14th, though his connection to romantic love remained tenuous for centuries.

The association between Valentine's Day and romantic love was solidified in the High Middle Ages, particularly through the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. His 1382 poem Parlement of Foules linked Saint Valentine's feast day with the mating season of birds and with courtly love — a connection that proved enormously influential. By the 15th century, written valentines were being exchanged in England and France. The oldest surviving valentine is a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

The mass production of valentine cards began in the mid-19th century, most notably through the work of Esther A. Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts, who created elaborate lace-and-ribbon cards inspired by English imports. Printed valentines soon became widely affordable, and the holiday expanded from a private romantic exchange to a broad cultural phenomenon.

Today, Valentine's Day generates over $25 billion in consumer spending in the United States alone, making it one of the most commercially significant holidays of the year. Roses — especially red ones — are the signature flower, with an estimated 250 million roses produced for the holiday each year. Boxes of chocolates, particularly heart-shaped assortments, are among the most popular gifts.

Greeting cards remain central to the holiday, with approximately 145 million cards exchanged in the US annually. Restaurants are among the busiest of the year on February 14th, with many offering special prix-fixe menus. Beyond romantic partners, the holiday is widely observed among children exchanging small cards and treats at school, and between friends and family members.