Countdown to
Valentine's Day
A day the world reserves for love
Today is Valentine's Day.
104 days until Valentine's Day, on Sunday, February 14, 2027.
Valentine's Day is Sunday, February 14, 2027. Happens every February 14.
Every February 14, much of the world sets aside a day for romance, affection, and the small gestures that say more than words. Valentine’s Day is now one of the most widely observed non-religious occasions on the calendar, marked with cards, flowers, chocolate, and shared meals across dozens of countries.
From martyr’s feast to a day for lovers
The holiday takes its name from Saint Valentine, though the details are famously murky. Early records point to more than one Christian martyr named Valentine, and around 496 AD Pope Gelasius I placed a Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. For centuries the day carried no romantic meaning at all.
That association is usually credited to the poet Geoffrey Chaucer. In his late-14th-century work Parlement of Foules, he described February 14 as the day birds gathered to choose their mates, one of the earliest surviving texts to tie the date to romantic love. The idea took hold in medieval and Renaissance Europe, where exchanging handwritten notes and tokens of affection became fashionable. A popular belief that the day descends directly from the Roman festival Lupercalia is often repeated but remains debated among historians.
How the day is observed
Modern Valentine’s Day revolves around giving. Couples exchange cards, red roses, and boxes of chocolate, and many mark the evening with a dinner out. In the United States it ranks as the second-largest card-sending occasion of the year, behind only Christmas. Schoolchildren often trade small valentines with classmates, extending the day beyond romantic couples.
Customs shift from country to country. In Japan, women traditionally give chocolate on February 14, and men reciprocate a month later on March 14, known as White Day. Finland and Estonia treat the date as a celebration of friendship rather than romance. In Mexico, February 14 marks love and friendship alike, el Día del Amor y la Amistad. Wherever it lands, the common thread is a deliberate pause to acknowledge the people we care about, whether with an extravagant gift or a single handwritten line.
❤️ Fun facts about Valentine's Day
- The oldest surviving valentine is a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was held prisoner in the Tower of London.
- Geoffrey Chaucer's poem Parlement of Foules, written around 1382, is among the earliest texts to connect February 14 with romantic love.
- In Japan, women traditionally give chocolate on Valentine's Day, and men return the gesture a month later on March 14, known as White Day.
- Finland and Estonia mark February 14 as a celebration of friendship rather than romance.
- In the United States, Valentine's Day is the second-biggest card-exchanging occasion of the year, trailing only Christmas.
Upcoming Valentine's Day dates
| Date | Days away |
|---|---|
| 104 days | |
| 469 days | |
| 835 days | |
| 1,200 days | |
| 1,565 days |
How people mark Valentine's Day
- Exchanging cards and love notes
- Giving red roses
- Sharing boxes of chocolate
- Going out for a romantic dinner
- Gifting jewelry
- Handing out valentines at school
Frequently asked
What day is Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day falls on February 14 every year. The date is fixed and does not shift with the day of the week.
Who was Saint Valentine?
The name refers to one or more early Christian martyrs called Valentine, the most cited being a Roman priest. Around 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I established a Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14, though the historical details are sparse and partly legendary.
Why is Valentine's Day linked to romance?
The romantic association is usually traced to the 14th-century poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who tied the day to birds choosing their mates. From there, the custom of exchanging love notes and tokens spread across Europe.
Is Valentine's Day a public holiday?
No. It is widely observed but is not an official public holiday in the United States or most other countries, so businesses and schools stay open.