❤️ Valentine's Day Countdown
February 14, 2027
About Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 as a day of romance, affection, and love. It is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, though the specific historical figure is murky — the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints by that name. The association of Valentine's Day with romantic love emerged in the Middle Ages; Geoffrey Chaucer and other poets of the 14th century were among the first to connect the feast of Saint Valentine with courtly love. The tradition of exchanging handwritten valentines grew in the 18th and 19th centuries, and commercial greeting cards became widespread in the mid-1800s in the US and UK.
Valentine's Day By the Numbers
Valentine's Day has grown into one of the largest consumer holidays in the United States. Americans collectively spend more than $24 billion annually — on greeting cards (about 145 million are exchanged, second only to Christmas), flowers (over a billion stems are purchased, mostly red roses), chocolates, jewelry, and restaurant meals. Red roses are the overwhelming floral choice, representing love and passion. The holiday is observed in many countries around the world, with the US, UK, Canada, and Australia having the largest celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valentine's Day a federal holiday?
No. Valentine's Day is not a federal, state, or public holiday in the United States or most countries. Schools, businesses, and government offices remain open. It is a cultural and commercial observance without official status.
Why are red roses associated with Valentine's Day?
Red roses have symbolized love and desire since ancient Rome — Venus, the goddess of love, was said to favor roses. In the Victorian era, flowers took on a formal language (floriography), and red roses specifically meant deep love and romantic passion. The Valentine's Day floral industry has reinforced this symbolism for over a century, making red roses the dominant choice.
What is the most popular Valentine's Day gift?
Greeting cards are the most widely exchanged gift, followed by candy/chocolate, flowers, a special dinner out, and jewelry. Jewelry is the highest-spending category on average — engagement rings and other fine jewelry account for a significant share of the holiday's total spending. A significant portion of Valentine's Day spending is also directed toward pets, with Americans spending hundreds of millions on pet gifts.
When did commercial Valentine's cards start?
Esther Howland of Massachusetts is often credited with creating the first commercial American valentines in the 1840s, producing elaborate lace and ribbon cards. Mass-produced valentines became widespread by the 1850s. Hallmark Cards began producing valentines in 1913. Today the greeting card industry produces roughly 145 million Valentine's Day cards per year in the US.