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In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "Saint Valentin", Romania has also started celebrating Valentine's Day. 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 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. By the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official "Valentine's Day cards." The rest, as they say, is history. Universal Images Group / Getty Images Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day today? Valentine's Day's transformation into a holiday about romantic love can be attributed to the Romantic English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. The Times notes that Jack B. Oruch, a late University of Kansas English professor, credits Chaucer for modern ideas about Valentine's Day. Through his research, Oruch They started looking familiar in the 19th century. Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia and the United States, although it’s most These varied traditions illuminate the many fun and meaningful ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day beyond the conventional dinner date. Whether it’s crafting a love spoon in Wales, participating in a mass wedding in the Philippines, sending a letter to Juliet in Verona, or simply spending the day with friends in Finland or Estonia, these customs underscore the universal and diverse More than 250 million roses are produced for Valentine's Day, according to the Society of American Florists—with red roses making up nearly two-thirds of that number. The heart shape as a symbol of love first started showing up in art of the Middle Ages. If you don't make a big deal about Valentine's Day, you're not alone. The commercialisation of Valentine’s Day. In the mid-19th century the Valentine’s card travelled across the Atlantic. Cards rapidly gained popularity in America, where they were initially advertised as a British fashion. Advanced American technologies meant that more elaborate cards were produced cheaply, encouraging their popularity yet Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday celebrated each year on February 14. Learn about St. Valentine, Valentine's Day quotes and the ancient origins of Valentine's Day. Valentine’s Day cards started to be mass-produced in the 19th century. Esther A. Howland, an American, is often credited with creating the first commercial Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s. Why are roses associated with this day? Today, it carries the weight of centuries of tradition and cultural significance. By exploring these ancestral Valentine’s traditions, we can forge deeper connections to our roots while enriching our modern celebrations. The Ancient Origins of Valentine’s Day. The story of Valentine’s Day begins in ancient Rome with the festival of Valentines Day Traditions and Customs. Romantic festival of St Valentine's Day is celebrated with enthusiasm and fond regard in several countries around the world. Most commonly observed Valentine's Day tradition and custom is expressing one's love with an exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. Spend Valentine’s Day Abroad with CIEE . Make this Valentine’s Day unforgettable by studying abroad with CIEE! Skip the clichés and experience new cultures, traditions, and memories abroad. Pack your bags and make this Valentine’s Day one to remember, no matter where you are! EXPLORE CIEE LOCATIONS In this article, we take a look at the various historical and cultural influences that have shaped Valentine’s Day. From the mysterious figure of Saint Valentine and the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia to the medieval traditions of courtly love and the commercialization of the holiday in the modern era, we explore how February 14th became the day to celebrate love. The Welsh get a jump on the rest of the world for Valentine's Day, instead celebrating St. Dwynwen's Day on January 25. He's the patron saint of lovers, and men traditionally give their significant others hand-carved wooden spoons, which hearken back to the time when love-sick Welsh sailors carved designs into their spoons to give to their lovers upon returning home. Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history. Philippines: Valentine’s Day in the Philippines is celebrated with mass weddings, where hundreds or even thousands of couples are married in public ceremonies. These events, often sponsored by the government, are a way to make marriage accessible to all and are part of the country’s vibrant Valentine’s Day celebrations. Gift shops and supermarkets become awash with crimson roses, hearts, and sweet treats in the build-up to the day, but not every country has the same Valentine’s customs. If you’ve ever wondered just why we celebrate on the 14th and are curious about what Valentine’s Day looks like in other countries, get ready for our whistle-stop tour of The Commercialization of Valentine's Day. At the start of the 20th century, the average spending on Valentine's Day was moderate. People often exchanged cards and small gifts, with a focus on sentimental gestures rather than extravagant spending. However, as the 20th century progressed, the commercialization of Valentine's Day continued to expand.
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