Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day History

Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and friendship. The idea of Valentine's Day seems to have originated during the Middle Ages, somewhere around the 14th or 15th century. The holiday derived its name from two Roman martyrs for love, both named Valentine.

The first Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, but not before leaving a note signed from your Valentine for his lady. The second Valentine was supposedly a bishop who secretly married young couples, an act that was forbidden by the Roman Emperor who wanted young men to first serve as soldiers before marrying. Valentine ignored the law and was beheaded on February 14. An ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, a celebration for which young men randomly chose the name of a young girl to escort to the festivities, has also been linked to the origins of Valentine's Day. Since then, the custom of selecting a sweetheart on February 14th has spread through Europe and its colonies and transformed itself into the celebration of love and friendship that we know today.

Top 10 Facts for Valentine's Day in 2026

• The historical origins of the holiday are often traced back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a mid-February fertility rite that predates the Christian association with Saint Valentine.
• One prominent legend suggests that the observance is named for a third-century priest who defied Emperor Claudius II by performing secret marriages for soldiers who were forbidden from wedlock.
• The 14th-century poem The Parliament of Fowls by Geoffrey Chaucer is widely credited as the first literary work to explicitly link the feast of Saint Valentine with the romantic mating of birds and human courtship.
• While roses are the most iconic floral gift, approximately 250 million of them are grown annually to meet the global demand for this single day of celebration.
• In recent years, the alternative observance of Galentine's Day has gained significant traction as a time to celebrate platonic friendships and female empowerment.
• The earliest known handwritten valentine was a poem penned in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans, while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt.
• South Korea observes a unique tradition known as Black Day exactly two months later on April 14, where individuals who did not receive gifts on previous romantic holidays gather to eat dark-colored noodles called jajangmyeon.
• A modern tradition involves thousands of people sending letters addressed to the fictional protagonist of Romeo and Juliet, a practice that notably inspired the 2010 romantic drama Letters to Juliet.
• The popular idiom to "wear your heart on your sleeve" is believed to have originated from a Middle Ages custom where men would draw a woman's name from a bowl and pin it to their sleeve for a week.
• Market analysis for 2026 indicates a distinct shift in consumer behavior toward a theme of Affordable Luxury, emphasizing high-value experiences and thoughtful tokens over extravagant jewelry.

In the News and Trending in the US for Valentine's Day

Top things to do in the US for Valentine's Day

• Send someone you care for a Valentine's Day card. Take the time to write a small note or love poem inside. Sign it, from your Valentine.
• Remember other important people in your life, such as your parents, grandparents and old friends. Send them a small card or gift to remind them of how much you care.
• Go to a special romantic dinner with your sweetheart. Tip: Book early as this is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.
• Watch the movie Valentine's Day (2010) or the Notebook (2004). Both are romance movies with star casts.
• Send a Secret Valentine to someone several days before, and then reveal your identity on February 14th.