Valentine’s Day Lore and Legends (2026)
Everything you ever wanted to know about the most romantic day of the year, and then some!
Quick Reference
- Valentine’s Day 2026: Saturday, February 14, 2026.
- Who was St. Valentine: third-century Roman physician-priest, martyred February 14, 270 AD, patron saint of lovers, engaged couples, and greetings.
- First Valentine card: Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife in 1415, still archived at the British Library, London.
- First mass-produced cards: Esther A. Howland, 1840s.
- The numbers each year: 150 million cards, 58 million pounds of chocolate, 220 million roses.
- Sources: British Library, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Farmers’ Almanac folklore archive.
Valentine’s Day is the best-known holiday for romantic love and tokens of affection: flowers, chocolates, and jewelry. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, February 14. But who was Saint Valentine, why is February 14 significant, and what other lore and legends are associated with this heartfelt occasion? The Almanac has been writing about Valentine’s Day folklore for over 200 years, and the answers below pull from Roman history, medieval poetry, English jail cells, and a 19th-century crafting boom.
St. Valentine’s Origin Story
Saint Valentine was indeed a real person, but the details of his life, background, and accomplishments are muddled in centuries of interpretation. There are many origin stories of St. Valentine, but the most detailed account says he was a physician-turned-priest who lived in Rome in the third century, during the reign of Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II). Claudius II was a cruel emperor who outlawed marriage because he believed it interfered with military prowess.
St. Valentine performed secret marriages and was imprisoned for doing so. After some time, he befriended the jailer’s daughter, Julia, whom he tutored. He was urged to renounce his faith, but refused, and was sentenced to death. Before his execution, he crushed violets to make purple ink and wrote a letter to Julia. He signed it, “from your Valentine.” Thus marked the mystical origin of the first Valentine’s Day card. Valentine was martyred on February 14, 270 AD. For an outside scholarly take on the dating and the conflated saints, see the Britannica entry on Valentine’s Day.
According to historians, there are many tales of the same man and it is impossible to tell which details are accurate and which may be exaggerated. In total, more than 50 priests, bishops, and other church officials have taken the name Valentine, and bits and pieces of all their histories may be part of the St. Valentine legend.
Today, St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers, engaged couples, and greetings.
Why Is February 14 Valentine’s Day?
The most obvious reason why Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 is to commemorate the death of St. Valentine. In medieval Europe, however, mid-February had another connection to romance, as written in English author Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem “Parliament of Fowls.” Chaucer notes that birds come together to seek mates halfway through the second month of the year. This certainly links “lovebirds” symbolism with Valentine’s Day.
The specific date of this romantic holiday may also have been deliberately selected to overshadow the Roman festival of fertility, Lupercalia, which traditionally took place on February 15. The Catholic Church hoped to reduce the influence of the raucous event but was only partially successful.
Valentine’s Traditions
Today, many different traditions are associated with Valentine’s Day celebrations. The holiday is widely celebrated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Spain, and continues to spread with certain nearly-universal traditions.
Valentine’s Day Cards
Cards with sentiments of love come to mind, and of course St. Valentine is credited with the origins of those personal notes with his letter to Julia. The first recorded Valentine’s Day card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in 1415. That card is still archived today in the British Library in London. It was not until the 1840s, however, that mass-produced cards first became widespread. Esther A. Howland is the creator of what we recognize as modern greeting cards, having crafted lovely cards with bits of ribbon, lace, and colorful pictures.
In the early 1900s, improved printing technologies created even more mass-marketed cards affordable to everyone. Today, more than 150 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, second only to the popularity of Christmas cards.
Download Farmer’s Almanac Valentine Puns (“Companion Plant” themed.)
Valentine’s Day Chocolates
Chocolates are another special Valentine’s Day treat, with even more ancient connections to love and romance. In ancient Mayan wedding ceremonies, the happy couple sipped chocolate to celebrate their union, while the ancient Aztecs believed chocolate to be a powerful aphrodisiac. The first box of chocolates was marketed by the Cadbury company in 1861, and that same company introduced a heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day in 1868. Today, more than 58 million pounds of chocolate are purchased each year for the holiday.
For those who prefer flowers for the holiday, nothing beats the always-romantic rose, and more than 220 million roses are sold annually for Valentine’s Day. Red roses are the most popular as the color symbolizes love and passion, but pink represents young love and affection, yellow highlights happiness, and white is ideal for everlasting love. Other flowers also represent love, including asters, carnations, tulips, peonies, and birds of paradise. Learn more about the lovely language of flowers.
Valentine’s Day Jewelry
Jewelry is another popular Valentine’s Day gift, and diamonds are the most popular choice as they have come to be associated with love and romance. (Learn more about diamond symbolism.) Brilliantly red rubies are also a gemstone of love, and birthstones are a beautifully personalized choice to celebrate loving relationships of all kinds. (Learn more about ruby symbolism.)
Cupid Mythology
Whether on cards, boxes of chocolates, or just whimsical decorations, the plump cherub Cupid is intimately associated with Valentine’s Day. Cupid was a Roman god of love, based on the Greek god Eros, depicted as a handsome man who used golden arrows to incite love in unsuspecting couples. The mischievous baby-faced version we recognize today is a Renaissance softening of the original Eros, who was more arrow-slinging trickster than chubby angel.
Valentine’s Day by the Numbers
| Item | Annual US figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cards sent | ~150 million | second only to Christmas |
| Pounds of chocolate purchased | ~58 million | Cadbury introduced the heart-shaped box in 1868 |
| Roses sold | ~220 million | red is the top color |
| Average spending per person | ~$165 | US National Retail Federation |
| Date Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent the first known Valentine | 1415 | British Library archive |
| Esther A. Howland’s first mass-produced cards | 1840s | Worcester, Massachusetts |
Celebrating Isn’t Just for Lovers
While many Valentine’s Day traditions focus on romantic love, the holiday is not just for lovers. Valentine’s Day can easily and happily be celebrated for any friendly relationship, from platonic love to family love to neighborly love.
Sharing Valentine’s Day with friends, coworkers, teachers, classmates, and even pets has become more popular over the years, broadening this celebration to include special people in everyone’s life.
You can even celebrate Valentine’s Day with a bit of pampering and self-care that will help you refresh and rejuvenate your most important relationship, with yourself. While this may seem self-indulgent, caring for oneself is the first step to having the energy and motivation to care for others.
Suggestions for Your Valentines
If you want to share Valentine’s Day with more than just a spouse or romantic partner, there are many great gift options. In the United States, Valentine’s Day spending averages $165 per person, but inexpensive gifts can be just as thoughtful and caring as gourmet chocolates, long-stemmed roses, or diamond jewelry. Consider these creative ways to show you care:
- An at-home movie night with popcorn and favorite treats.
- A family game night to build strong relationships.
- A potted plant to grow friendship far longer than one day.
- Experiences to share, such as playing local tourist in your hometown.
- A trivia-based scavenger hunt with personalized clues.
- A printed, framed photo of a special moment shared together.
Ultimately, any gifts that show thoughtfulness toward the recipient can be great Valentine’s Day gifts: a coffee mug for the caffeine-lover, cozy socks for someone with chilly toes, a favorite book for the bibliophile, and pet-themed gifts for the animal lover.
Other Romantic Holidays
While Valentine’s Day gets all the attention as a date to celebrate romance, love, and affection, there are many other days to celebrate everyone special in your life throughout the year. To keep every type of romance alive year-round, consider:
- January 6, National Cuddle Up Day
- February 13, Galentine’s Day (a day for women to celebrate their friendships with other “gals.”)
- March 20, Kiss Your Fiance Day
- April 23, National Lover’s Day
- May 14, Online Romance Day
- June 3, Love Conquers All Day
- June 8, National Best Friends Day
- July 6, International Kissing Day
- August 9, Hold Hands Day
- September 26, Love Note Day
- October 7, You Matter to Me Day
- November 13, World Kindness Week
- December 3, Let’s Hug Day
No matter who you love or how you want to celebrate, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity, and you can continue that love, friendship, and caring all year long.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Valentine’s Day 2026?
Saturday, February 14, 2026. It always falls on February 14, regardless of the day of the week.
Who was St. Valentine and what is the Valentine’s Day lore?
A third-century Roman physician-priest who performed secret marriages after Emperor Claudius II banned them. Imprisoned, he befriended his jailer’s daughter Julia, wrote her a letter signed “from your Valentine,” and was martyred on February 14, 270 AD.
What is the oldest surviving Valentine’s Day card?
A letter from Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife in 1415, written while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It is still archived at the British Library.
Why are roses associated with Valentine’s Day?
Roses symbolize love and passion in Greek and Roman myth, where the flower is tied to Aphrodite. Red is the most popular for romantic love. Pink represents young love, yellow happiness, and white everlasting love.
Why is February 14 specifically Valentine’s Day?
It marks the death of St. Valentine in 270 AD. The Catholic Church also chose the date partly to overshadow the Roman fertility festival Lupercalia, which fell on February 15. Chaucer’s medieval poem “Parliament of Fowls” reinforced the date as a love holiday.
How many Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year?
More than 150 million in the United States. Only Christmas cards beat that total.
Where does Cupid come from?
Roman mythology. He is the god of love, modeled on the Greek god Eros, who used golden arrows to spark love in unsuspecting hearts. The chubby cherub version came later, during the Renaissance.
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Pick the Best Day to Set Plans in Motion
Join The Discussion
What was the most interesting piece of fact or fiction you learned today? Let us know in the comments below.
Melissa Mayntz
Melissa Mayntz is a writer who specializes in birds and birding, though her work spans a wide range—from folklore to healthy living. Her first book, Migration: Exploring the Remarkable Journeys of Birds was published in 2020. Mayntz also writes for National Wildlife Magazine and The Spruce. Find her at MelissaMayntz.com.
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Sweet article, all were very funny!!
There is also a legend that while Valentine was in prison, a tree with large heart-shaped leaves (somewhat like a catalpa or a large lilac) grew near his window. He scratched tiny messages of love and hope on these, signed them “Valentine” and floated them off on the breeze, to be found and read to the comfort of his congregation. Hence, at least according to the legnd, we have heart-shaped valentines.
Actually, the history of signing with an “X” is a bit different than what was related in this article. It has only recently, within this century, been thought of as a ‘kiss’. The meaning of “X” goes back a bit further. And like it or not, is established in Christianity. Christ spelled in Greek is “Χριστός”, pronounced “Chi-Rho”. The first letter in Christ looks like an “X”. The second letter resembles a “P”. These two letters together are called “Chi” and “Rho”. As Christianity spread across Europe, people did not recognize the Greek letter rho (looked like a P), so it was eventually dropped.
In the days of the Old West, literally every American knew that the “X” meant Christ. The old cowboys would sign his name with an “X”. Why did he use an X instead of a smiley face or something else? Because everyone in that day knew that the X meant our Lord. By signing the paper with an X, he was swearing an oath before God that he would abide by the terms of the contract he was signing. It was a solemn oath to sign with an X.
I sincerely doubt the cowboy thought of it as a kiss. 😉
Nice Job Susan. You have so much hidden Talent.. Have a nice Valentines day and you be good to that better half of your. John D.
Thank you for sharing…:-) Happy Valentines Day!!!
Love this so much, thank you for the article
All I heard was a frog and all i saw was grey …i don’t think i want to know what that means.
I think I saw Robert Redford NOPE that was a dream nuts!
I saw all 3;what does that mean?
Hi, Happy Valentines Day Everyone !!! GOD Is LOVE !!! Valentines Day is my Birthday, Another year older, I am Feeling pretty old lately. I was married for 23 yrs. Divorced. Was Blessed with 3 children, Joey, Michael, and Kristina. Now I have 6 grandchildren !!! I am so Blessed. My 2 boys are married. I take care of my Dad w/ Alzheimers. All I want is to Be Happy !!! God Bless Us All !!!