Valentine’s Day is on Sunday, February 14, 2027, and it falls on February 14 every year. It’s a day for showing love with cards, flowers, chocolate and dinner dates. Many people also use it to celebrate friends, family and even pets.
When Is Valentine’s Day?
It’s always February 14. It’s widely observed but not a federal holiday, so schools, banks, post offices and most workplaces stay open. Restaurants book up early, so reserve ahead.
How Did Valentine’s Day Start?
It began as a feast day for a Christian martyr. History.com notes that the Catholic Church recognizes at least three third-century saints named Valentine. At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day.
Who was St. Valentine?
Nobody knows for sure which Valentine the day honors. One legend says a Roman priest secretly married couples after Emperor Claudius II banned marriage for young soldiers. Claudius had him executed.
Another Valentine, a bishop, was also beheaded under Claudius II. The stories overlap, and little about either man can be confirmed.
When it became about love
The romance came much later, in the Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer is the first known writer to tie St. Valentine’s Day to love, in his 1380s poem “The Parliament of Fowls.”
The oldest known valentine still around dates from 1415. Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote it to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London.
The first American valentines
In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Her lace-and-paper cards earned her the nickname “Mother of the Valentine.”
What the Day Celebrates Today
Love in all its forms. It started with couples but now includes friends, family, classmates and pets. For many kids, it’s the day they trade cards with every classmate.
The National Retail Federation projected a record $29.1 billion in spending in 2026, about $200 per shopper. Jewelry led at $7 billion, followed by evenings out at $6.3 billion. About 35% of shoppers planned gifts for pets.
How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
- Recreate your first date: go back to the same restaurant and order the same dishes.
- Make a DIY card: cut a heart from an old map of a place you’ve been together and glue it to card stock.
- Write a Chaucer-style note: add one line of poetry, your own or a favorite, inside the card.
- Cook dinner at home: skip the crowded prix fixe and make homemade pasta by candlelight, with dessert you bake together.
- Send classroom valentines: kids can make one for every classmate, so nobody is left out.
- Plan a cheaper date: go out on February 13 or 15 to skip the February 14 rush and crowded menus.
How Japan Marks February 14
In Japan, women traditionally give chocolate to men on February 14, the Japan National Tourism Organization explains. “Giri-choco” goes to coworkers and friends, and “honmei-choco” goes to a partner. Men return the favor on White Day, March 14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valentine’s Day linked to Lupercalia?
Some writers link it to Lupercalia, a Roman festival held around February 15. Modern scholars dispute that link, so treat it as a theory, not settled history.
How many Valentine’s cards are sent?
Hallmark says more than 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, second only to Christmas.
Is there a Valentine’s Day for friends?
Yes. Galentine’s Day on February 13 celebrates friendship. Singles Awareness Day follows on February 15.