Today, Tu B'Av is celebrated as a second holiday of love by secular people (along with Valentine's Day), and it shares many of the customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day in Western societies. In modern Israeli culture Tu B'Av is a popular day to proclaim love, propose marriage, and give gifts like cards or flowers. Valentine’s Day is the holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Friday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts Howland’s contribution to the commercialization of Valentine’s Day helped establish the holiday as a significant occasion for gift-giving and expressing love. The Commercialization of Valentine’s Day. The modern celebration of Valentine’s Day as we know it today began to take shape in the 18th and 19th centuries. So let's take a look at the murky beginnings of Valentine's Day and how we got to the romantic holiday filled with flowers and candy we think of today. When is Valentine's Day 2025? Valentine's One of the earliest references to Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday comes from Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet, in his 1382 poem Parlement of Foules. In it, Chaucer links February Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. When is Valentine's Day 2024? This year, Valentine's Day falls on Wednesday, Feb. 14. By the 18th century, exchanging handmade cards and tokens of affection became a common tradition associated with the holiday. Who sent the first Valentine’s Day card? The first known Valentine’s Day card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in the early 15th century. The exact history of Valentine's Day is a bit murky, but some historians believe the holiday is linked to Lupercalia, a pagan festival that was held annually between Feb. 13 and Feb. 15 in ancient The Feast of Saint Valentine, also known as Saint Valentine's Day, was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honour of the Christian martyr. [41] A shrine of Saint Valentine in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. February 14 is Saint Valentine's Day in the Lutheran calendar of saints. [12] Valentine's Day has quite the history. Learn about why we celebrate Valentine's Day, the meaning of the holiday, when Valentine's Day is this year, why Valentine's Day is on February 14, and more. When Is Valentine's Day 2025? Valentine's Day 2025. Fri, Feb 14, 2025 – 55 countries. Sat, Sep 20, 2025 – Colombia. Valentine's Day 2026. Sat, Feb 14, 2026 – 53 countries. Sat, Sep 19, 2026 – Colombia. Valentine’s Day on February 14 is a global holiday that traditionally celebrates romantic love. Holiday Date Days to Go; Valentines Day 2024: Wednesday, February 14, 2024-362: Valentines Day 2025: Friday, February 14, 2025: 4: Valentines Day 2026: Saturday The origins of Valentine’s Day are pretty obscure. While scholars generally agree that the holiday was popularized in the 1840s in the U.K. and U.S., the specific historical roots of the Presidents Day always falls on the third Monday in February. This year, Presidents Day will fall on the Monday after Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 16, 2025. When Is Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day occurs annually on February 14.In 2025, it will be celebrated on Friday, February 14. Valentine’s Day Dates Valentine's Day By Numbers. $13,290,000,000 – The average annual spend on Valentine’s Day 180 million – The number of Valentine’s Day cards exchanged every year. 198,000,000 – The number of roses readied for Valentine’s Day. 85% – The percentage of Valentine cards that are purchased by women. 73% – The percentage of flowers Galentine’s Day is an alternative holiday that started in 2010, Valentine’s Day 2025 will fall on Friday, Feb. 14. What is Palentine's Day? Is Valentine’s Day an official holiday? Valentine’s Day was never named an official national holiday in the United States, but it continues to be a popular holiday in the country. Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history.
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