Valentine’s Day on February 14: History, Legends, and Traditions

When is Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day falls on February 14 every year. The date comes from the Christian feast day honoring St. Valentine. It wasn’t originally a day for love notes and romantic gestures; those traditions came later. In the United States, Valentine’s Day isn’t a federal holiday, so you don’t get the day off. And celebrating is entirely up to you—it’s an occasion, not an obligation.

Who was St. Valentine?

The short answer is that no one knows for sure. Traditional accounts mention a priest named Valentine in Rome and a bishop named Valentine of Terni. Their stories overlap, and some may even refer to the same person. Very little about their lives can be confirmed.

One popular legend says Valentine secretly performed weddings for couples even though the emperor had forbidden them. It’s a romantic story, but there’s no reliable historical evidence to support it. It remains part of the legend surrounding the saint.

How did Valentine’s Day become a celebration of love?

The link between Valentine’s Day and romantic love first appears in the late Middle Ages. In the 14th century, the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer connected St. Valentine’s Day with birds choosing their mates—one of the earliest known references to the day in a romantic context.

People were writing personal messages of love by at least the 15th century. The oldest surviving Valentine’s letter in English dates to February 1477. Margery Brews wrote it to her fiancé, John Paston, and the British Library still holds it today.

When did Valentine’s cards and gifts become popular?

Early Valentine’s greetings were usually handwritten letters or poems. By the 19th century, they had also become a business. Less expensive paper and new printing techniques made it possible to produce cards in large quantities.

The postal service played a part, too. Britain’s Penny Post, introduced in 1840, made sending letters more affordable. In London, a market developed for ready-made cards and the materials used to decorate them.

Some of those cards were incredibly elaborate. One example in the London Museum collection, dating from between 1845 and 1880, features intricately cut, lace-like paper, silk, two doves, and flowers made from fabric and paper.

So Valentine’s Day has had a commercial side for a long time. What people give each other, though, still varies from country to country.

How is Valentine’s Day celebrated around the world?

Valentine’s Day isn’t celebrated the same way everywhere—or even on the same date:

Japan: Traditionally, women give men chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Men return the favor a month later, on March 14, which is known as White Day. Chocolate is also given to friends or enjoyed as a treat for yourself.

Finland: February 14 is called ystävänpäivä, meaning “Friendship Day.” People exchange cards and small gifts with friends as well as romantic partners.

Brazil: Couples celebrate Dia dos Namorados on June 12 instead. The date is associated with the June 13 feast day of St. Anthony, a saint traditionally linked to love and marriage.

Want to discover more celebrations of love, like Sant Jordi in Catalonia? Take a look at our guide Love Around the World.

How can you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Flowers, dinner, a walk together—there’s no single right way to celebrate. What matters is finding something that feels right for the two of you. Here are a few ideas:

• Write each other a letter or card by hand. Margery Brews did it back in 1477, and a few heartfelt words can mean more than a store-bought card.
• Cook a meal together, or go out to eat at the place where you first met.
• Look through old photos together and remember how your relationship began.
• Not in a relationship right now? Send a message to your friends. In Finland, February 14 is Friendship Day, after all.

To keep track of the special dates in your relationship, there’s Anniversaries & Photo Collages. The app counts down to upcoming anniversaries and lets you save photos and notes for each occasion. It’s free and ad-free, with no account required and no tracking. Download it from the App Store.