- 14 February
- Named after Saint Valentine
- Cards, roses and chocolate
Where it began
The day is named after Saint Valentine, an early Christian martyr remembered on 14 February. Very little is known for sure about his life, and more than one saint of that name was honoured in Rome.
Legend says Valentine helped couples marry and wrote a note to a friend signed from your Valentine. These tales grew much later, and they are told as stories rather than history.
The link with romance appears in English poetry in the late 1300s, when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote of birds choosing their mates on Saint Valentine's Day. From then on, poets and lovers began to send each other verses on the day.
How it grew over time
Early Christian times
Saint Valentine is remembered as a martyr on 14 February.
Late 1300s
Chaucer's poem links the day with birds choosing mates and with love.
1400s
Some of the oldest known love letters for the day are written in verse.
18th century
In England, friends and lovers exchange handwritten notes and small gifts.
19th century
Printed cards with lace and paper flowers become popular and widely sent.
Today
Roses, chocolate and cards are shared in many countries, often with friends too.
How it is celebrated in different places
Japan and South Korea
Women often give chocolate on 14 February, and men return gifts on White Day a month later.
Finland and Estonia
The day is known as Friends' Day and is about thanking friends.
Philippines
Many couples choose the day for their wedding, and group weddings are common.
India
Young couples and friends exchange roses and cards, and cafes fill up in the evening.
Valentine's Day moments
Valentine's Day today
Today the day is kept in many simple ways: a handwritten note, a shared meal, flowers for a parent or a message to an old friend. The heart is the same everywhere, a small act of love.
