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When is Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day falls on Sunday, February 14, 2027.
About Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day on February 14 is celebrated in many countries as a day for romance and affection. Couples and admirers exchange cards, often called valentines, along with flowers, chocolates and other gifts. The holiday takes its name from one or more early Christian saints called Valentine, and it became linked with romantic love by the High Middle Ages. It is not a public holiday in most countries, so shops and offices stay open, but it is one of the largest commercial events of the year, with billions spent worldwide on gifts, dining and travel. The date is always February 14, while the weekday rotates, and a Valentine's Day on a weekend tends to drive especially strong restaurant and travel bookings.
The earliest surviving Valentine's letter dates from 1415. It was written by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife while he was held prisoner in the Tower of London. Mass-produced Valentine's cards appeared in the early 19th century and were firmly established by the Victorian era. Today the United States is the largest Valentine's Day market by spending, and adults there typically average well over $150 each on cards, gifts, dining and flowers. Around 250 million roses, most of them red, are sold in the run-up to February 14 in the US alone. Several countries keep related customs on other dates. In South Korea, Valentine's Day is followed by White Day on March 14, when men return gifts, and Black Day on April 14 for those who received nothing. In Japan the usual pattern is reversed, with women giving chocolates on February 14.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine is the name of one or more early Christian martyrs honoured on February 14. The records are thin, and the church historically recognised more than one Valentine, including a priest in Rome and a bishop of Terni, both said to have died in the 3rd century. Little reliable detail survives about any of them, and the Catholic Church removed Valentine's feast from its general calendar in 1969 because so little was known. The link between the saint and romantic love came centuries later and is not part of the original accounts.
Why is Valentine's Day on February 14?
February 14 was the feast day long associated with Saint Valentine in the Christian calendar. The connection with romance is usually traced to the later medieval period. The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, writing in the 1380s, linked the day to birds choosing their mates, and his work is often credited with helping tie February 14 to courtship. From there the tradition of exchanging notes and tokens grew over the following centuries. Some accounts also point to Roman mid-February festivals, though that direct link is debated.
Is Valentine's Day a public holiday?
Valentine's Day is not a public holiday in any country. February 14 is a normal working day, and shops, offices and schools stay open. Despite that, it is one of the biggest commercial occasions of the year, with heavy spending on cards, flowers, chocolate, jewellery and meals out. Restaurants and florists treat it as one of their busiest days. The lack of holiday status is partly why a Valentine's Day on a weekend tends to see stronger restaurant and travel bookings than one on a weekday.
How is Valentine's Day celebrated in different countries?
The basic idea of exchanging gifts and cards is widespread, but customs differ. In Japan women give chocolate on February 14, with a distinction between obligatory gifts and those for a romantic partner, and men reciprocate a month later on White Day. South Korea keeps White Day too, and adds Black Day in April for single people. In Wales an older tradition centres on Saint Dwynwen's Day in January. In Finland and Estonia the day leans towards friendship rather than romance. In much of the West the focus stays on couples.
How much do people spend on Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day is a major retail event, especially in the United States, where the National Retail Federation has reported total spending in the region of 20 to 26 billion dollars in recent years. Average spending per person who takes part has run well above 150 dollars, covering cards, flowers, chocolate, jewellery, meals and outings. Flowers alone account for a large share, with hundreds of millions of roses sold for the occasion. Spending tends to rise when the day falls on a weekend and more people go out to eat.