How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14: A Complete Guide to Everything You Need to Know
February 14 — the most romantic day of the year
Valentine’s Day. Two words that can make a person feel three things at once: warmth, pressure, and the nagging suspicion they have forgotten to make a reservation. Whether you are deeply in love, newly dating, comfortably long-term, celebrating with a best friend, honoring a parent, or determined to spend the day entirely alone with a good book and better chocolate, February 14 is a holiday that touches almost everyone — and that means something different to almost everyone.
This is the complete guide to Valentine’s Day: its history, its traditions, how different cultures around the world observe it, gift ideas for every relationship and every budget, date night ideas from the grand gesture to the quietly perfect, ways to celebrate when you are single, how to involve your children, the food and the flowers and the cards and the jewelry and the etiquette questions that nobody quite knows the answer to — and, finally, the meaning at the heart of all of it.
By the time you finish reading, you will know everything there is to know about Valentine’s Day. You will also, possibly, have a plan.
Part One: The History of Valentine’s Day — Where It Actually Came From
The Christian Martyrs Named Valentine
The holiday takes its name from at least two — possibly three — Christian martyrs of the early church, all named Valentinus or Valentine, whose feast days were observed on February 14 by the Roman Catholic Church until 1969.
The most commonly cited is Saint Valentine of Rome, a priest who was martyred around AD 269 under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Legend — first recorded in the 14th century — holds that Claudius had banned marriages for young men, believing that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. Valentine defied the ban, performing marriages for young lovers in secret. When discovered, he was imprisoned and executed. A second legend holds that Valentine, while imprisoned, fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and sent her a farewell letter signed “from your Valentine” — the origin phrase of every Valentine’s Day card ever written.
There is also Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop martyred around AD 197, whose story has blended with that of the Roman priest over the centuries. The scholarly consensus is that there were likely multiple saints named Valentine, all martyred in February, whose legends eventually merged into a single composite figure.
The date of February 14 may also have pre-Christian origins. The Lupercalia festival — a Roman purification and fertility rite held on February 13–15 — has been cited by some historians as a possible antecedent. Lupercalia involved ritual sacrifices, the striking of women with animal hides (believed to confer fertility), and a lottery in which young men drew women’s names to be paired with for the festival. Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 a feast day for Saint Valentine in AD 496, possibly as a Christianization of the pagan festival — though this direct connection is disputed by many historians.
Chaucer, Shakespeare, and the Romantic Association
The association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love does not appear in written records until the late 14th century. The earliest surviving written connection between Saint Valentine’s feast day and romantic love is generally attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer, in his 1382 poem Parlement of Foules:
“For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”
Whether Chaucer was describing an existing folk tradition or inventing one that then became real is debated by scholars. What is clear is that by the 15th century, the association between February 14 and courtship was well established in English literary culture. Shakespeare references it in Hamlet: Ophelia sings “Good morrow! ’tis St. Valentine’s day, / All in the morning betime, / And I a maid at your window / To be your Valentine.”
By the 17th and 18th centuries, Valentine’s Day was a genuine popular observance in England and France, with lovers exchanging handwritten love notes, flowers, and small gifts.
Why Do We Celebrate Valentine Day on February 14?
The Hallmark Era: 19th Century to Today
The industrialization of Valentine’s Day began in 19th-century England, when the mass production of printed cards made the exchange of paper valentines accessible to everyone, not just those who could compose elegant verse themselves. By the 1840s, Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts — sometimes called the “Mother of the American Valentine” — was producing elaborate, lace-trimmed, embossed paper valentines at scale, establishing the commercial card industry that dominates the holiday today.
The Hallmark Company began producing Valentine’s Day cards in 1913 — a development often cited cynically when discussing the holiday’s commercialization, though the greeting card industry was already well established long before Hallmark entered it.
Today, Valentine’s Day is a global commercial event. Americans alone are estimated to spend approximately $24 billion on the holiday annually — roughly $185 per person who celebrates — on cards, flowers, candy, jewelry, restaurants, and experiences. Approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged in the United States every year, making it the second-largest card-sending holiday after Christmas.
Part Two: Valentine’s Day Around the World — How Different Cultures Celebrate
Valentine’s Day is observed in remarkably different ways across cultures, and in some countries has evolved independently of its Western origins.
United States and Canada: The full commercial and romantic experience — roses, chocolate, cards, restaurant reservations, jewelry. Also widely observed as a children’s school holiday, with classroom card exchanges.
United Kingdom: Similar to the U.S., but with a stronger emphasis on the anonymous valentine tradition — cards sent without a signature, leaving the recipient to guess the admirer.
France: Observed with similar customs to the UK and U.S., but with particular emphasis on high-quality gifts — perfume, chocolates from artisan confectioners, champagne. The French invented the undine, an early term for a love letter.
Italy: Observed similarly to France, with gift-giving and romantic dinners. Chocolates, flowers, and romantic getaways are popular.
Japan and South Korea: In Japan, the tradition is distinctly different: on February 14, women give chocolates to men — both romantic partners (honmei-choco, meaning “true feeling chocolate”) and male colleagues or friends (giri-choco, meaning “obligation chocolate”). One month later, on March 14 — called White Day — men reciprocate with gifts of white chocolate, candy, or jewelry. South Korea has adopted a similar structure, with an additional Black Day on April 14, when single people who received no gifts on either February 14 or March 14 gather to eat jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) together in commiseration.
Denmark and Norway: In Denmark, men traditionally send women gaekkebrev — a “joking letter,” a poem or rhyme sent anonymously, pressed through a pattern of small holes. If the recipient correctly guesses the sender, she receives an Easter egg at Easter.
Brazil: Brazil celebrates the equivalent of Valentine’s Day on June 12 — the eve of the feast of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of marriages. The holiday is called Dia dos Namorados (“Day of the Enamored”) and involves the exchange of gifts, cards, and flowers between romantic partners.
Finland and Estonia: Valentine’s Day in Finland (Ystävänpäivä, “Friend’s Day”) and Estonia is celebrated as a day of friendship rather than romantic love — gifts and cards exchanged between close friends of all kinds, not exclusively romantic partners.
Philippines: One of the most enthusiastic Valentine’s Day celebrations in Asia, with couples visiting churches for special masses, exchanging gifts, and participating in mass wedding ceremonies that the Philippine government has sponsored on February 14 for decades.
India: Valentine’s Day has grown significantly in Indian urban culture over the past two decades, particularly among younger generations. It coexists with some conservative backlash from groups who view it as a foreign cultural imposition, but the commercial holiday is robust in major cities.
Middle East and China: Valentine’s Day is observed in varying degrees across the Middle East, with restrictions in some countries. In China, February 14 has been growing in popularity alongside the traditional Qixi Festival (the Chinese Valentine’s Day, celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar).
Part Three: Valentine’s Day Traditions — The Symbols and Their Meanings
Red Roses
The red rose is the defining symbol of Valentine’s Day — and its association with romantic love runs deeper than commercial florist marketing. In Roman mythology, the red rose was sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. In the Victorian language of flowers (floriography), red roses specifically meant “I love you.” A single red rose: “You are the one I love.” A dozen red roses: a grand, complete declaration of love.
Approximately 250 million roses are produced specifically for Valentine’s Day each year. The majority are grown in Ecuador, Colombia, and the Netherlands. The global floral industry generates an estimated $3.5 billion from Valentine’s Day alone.
Color guide for roses: Red: passionate romantic love Pink: admiration, gratitude, gentle affection White: purity, new beginnings, innocence Yellow: friendship, joy, caring Orange: enthusiasm, desire, fascination Purple/Lavender: enchantment, love at first sight Coral: desire, admiration
Heart Shape
The heart symbol (♥) as a representation of love is ancient. Its origins are debated — theories include that it represents the shape of a swan’s neck, the shape of an ivy leaf (a plant associated with fidelity), the shape of a silphium seed (an ancient contraceptive herb that appeared on Roman coins), or a stylized early anatomical representation of the human heart. Whatever its origin, by the 13th and 14th centuries the heart shape was firmly established in European visual iconography as a symbol of love and devotion.
Cupid
Cupid — the chubby, winged infant archer of modern popular culture — derives from the Roman god Eros (Cupid in Latin), the god of love, who was the son of Venus. In classical mythology, Eros was not an infant but a beautiful young man. His transformation into a cherubic baby archer occurred in the Renaissance, when Italian artists began representing him as a putto — a chubby angelic infant — in paintings and sculptures. The figure of Cupid shooting arrows to inspire love became permanently associated with Valentine’s Day through centuries of artistic tradition.
Chocolates and Candy
The association between chocolate and Valentine’s Day was solidified in the 19th century by Richard Cadbury, who in 1861 introduced heart-shaped boxes of chocolates specifically for the holiday — the direct ancestor of every red heart-shaped box of chocolates sold today. The physiological rationale has some scientific grounding: chocolate contains phenylethylamine and serotonin, compounds associated with feelings of excitement and wellbeing.
Americans consume approximately 58 million pounds of chocolate during Valentine’s Day week.
Love Notes and Cards
The handwritten love note predates the printed greeting card by centuries. The oldest surviving Valentine’s Day card in existence is housed at the British Museum in London: a verse poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt.
The transition from handwritten personal notes to printed cards occurred in the 19th century with industrial printing. Today, approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged in the United States annually.
Part Four: Gift Ideas — For Every Relationship, Every Budget
For Your Partner or Spouse
The Classic Gesture (Under $50): A handwritten love letter — specific, honest, written by hand on quality paper. A photograph printed, framed, and matted from a meaningful moment. A bouquet of their favorite flowers (not necessarily roses — know what they actually love). A box of their favorite chocolates. A candle in their favorite scent. A personalized playlist with a handwritten note explaining why each song matters.
The Thoughtful Mid-Range ($50–$200): A piece of jewelry with personal meaning — their birthstone, a pendant in the shape of something meaningful, an engraved bracelet or ring. A spa experience or massage for two. A cooking class for the two of you. A framed custom star map showing the night sky on a meaningful date. A custom illustrated portrait of the two of you. A subscription to their favorite streaming service, magazine, or specialty food box. A cashmere sweater or silk robe in their favorite color.
The Grand Gesture ($200 and above): A weekend away — a cozy bed and breakfast, a hotel they have always wanted to stay in, a city they have always wanted to visit. Tickets to a concert, Broadway show, sporting event, or experience they have dreamed about. Fine jewelry — a necklace, bracelet, or ring with a stone they love. A custom piece of art. A private chef’s dinner at home, complete with flowers, candles, and a curated menu. An experience — hot air balloon, helicopter tour, cooking class with a famous chef, wine tasting at a vineyard.
For Someone You Are Newly Dating
The new relationship Valentine’s Day is one of the holiday’s most treacherous navigations. The wrong gift sends the wrong signal in either direction. The principles: match the energy they have shown, stay genuine over impressive, keep it light enough that it can’t be misread as pressure. A small plant. A book you love and think they will love. A simple, good meal you cook yourself. A short, honest note about what you like about them. A shared activity that lets you both have fun without pressure — mini golf, a movie, a local museum, a cooking class.
For a Best Friend or Galentine’s Day
Galentine’s Day — the celebration of female friendship, made culturally prominent by the character Leslie Knope on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, who established it as an unofficial holiday on February 13 — has become a genuine cultural tradition. The right gift: something specific to their personality and interests, not generic “girls’ night” clichés. A book they would love. A bottle of wine with a personal note. A good coffee or tea set. Tickets to something you can both do together. A gift card to their favorite restaurant or store. A handwritten note about what their friendship means to you — which is, honestly, the best gift of all.
For Children: Elementary School Valentine’s Day
In American elementary schools, Valentine’s Day typically involves a classroom card exchange — every child gives a card to every other child in the class, so no one is left out. What works: simple, fun cards with small attached treats (individually wrapped candy, small stickers, a pencil or eraser). Many parents make DIY cards with their children — construction paper, glue, glitter, foam hearts — which builds the skill of making something for someone else.
A note for parents: some schools have moved to allergy-aware or nut-free policies for food items. Check with the teacher before sending anything edible.
For Parents and Grandparents
A handwritten note or card from an adult child is often the most meaningful Valentine’s Day gift a parent can receive. Add a photograph of your family. Call them. Take them to lunch. If you are a grandchild: draw them something.
Part Five: Valentine’s Day Date Ideas — From the Elaborate to the Perfectly Simple
At a Restaurant
The restaurant Valentine’s Day is a tradition for a reason: being cooked for, served, and given an evening free of domestic logistics is genuinely romantic. The challenges: everywhere is packed, prix fixe menus are mandatory and expensive, and the atmosphere can feel manufactured. How to do it well:
Make reservations early. For Valentine’s Day specifically, reservations at popular restaurants close weeks in advance. Book immediately.
Consider the night before or after. February 13 and February 15 are increasingly popular “strategic Valentine’s” nights — the same restaurants, half the crowds, the same intention.
Try somewhere genuinely special to you both, not just prestigious. The neighborhood Italian place where you had your third date beats a famous restaurant where you have never been and may not like the food.
Consider a chef’s counter or tasting menu experience for an elaborate Valentine’s — these create built-in conversation and entertainment as each course arrives.
At Home
A dinner at home done well can exceed any restaurant for intimacy and romance. The elements of a perfect Valentine’s dinner at home:
Choose a menu that’s delicious but manageable. You want to be present with your person, not stressed in the kitchen. Consider: a simple pasta (cacio e pepe, carbonara, fresh pasta with a sauce made ahead), a roasted chicken or beef tenderloin (both involve the oven and minimal active cooking time once underway), a seafood option (shrimp, scallops, or salmon all cook in under 10 minutes), or a fondue (participatory, delicious, low-stress).
Set the table properly. Tablecloth or placemats. Real plates. Candles — always candles. Flowers, even a single stem in a small vase. Put the phones away.
Build the evening. An aperitivo and snacks before dinner. The meal. A dessert — something special, even if it’s as simple as excellent chocolate with strawberries and a glass of dessert wine. A movie, music, or dancing in the kitchen afterward.
The gift of effort. Cooking a meal for someone is an act of love that registers differently than buying something. It says: I thought about what you would enjoy, I used my hands to make it, and I want to feed you well.
Experience-Based Dates
Take a class together. Cooking, ceramics, painting, floral arrangement, cocktail mixing, salsa dancing. Something new that puts you both in a beginner’s position — vulnerability and shared laughter are romantic.
Go somewhere neither of you has been. A new neighborhood in your city. A botanical garden, museum, or gallery. A hike you have been meaning to do. An escape room. A skating rink.
Stay in a hotel in your own city. One of the most underrated date ideas: checking into a nice hotel a few miles from home, ordering room service, using the pool or spa, and waking up somewhere that isn’t your usual morning. It creates the feeling of a getaway without the logistics of actual travel.
See live music, theater, or comedy. Shared experiences at live performances create memories that dinner alone cannot — the conversation during intermission, the song that plays and becomes yours.
For Long-Distance Couples
When Valentine’s Day falls during a period of physical separation: video dinner, scheduled for the same time in both time zones, with both people cooking the same meal from a shared recipe. Flowers and a handwritten card sent in advance, timed to arrive on the day. A personalized video message. A digital album or playlist created specifically for them. A gift card to their favorite local restaurant so they can have a special meal even while apart.
Part Six: Valentine’s Day When You Are Single — Honoring the Day on Your Own Terms
There is a persistent cultural pressure around Valentine’s Day that positions being single as something to be survived rather than lived. This is nonsense. February 14 is a day. You can do with it what you choose.
The case for leaning into it: Treat yourself with the same consideration you would treat a beloved person. Buy the flowers. Make the reservation — solo dining is increasingly normalized and can be genuinely pleasurable. Cook yourself something excellent. Watch a movie you love. Buy the chocolate. Write in a journal about what you are grateful for. Call a friend you love. Send someone a card for no reason other than to tell them you are glad they are in your life.
The case for ignoring it completely: February 14 is a Tuesday (or whatever day it falls on). You can cook your ordinary dinner and watch your ordinary television and be entirely unbothered by the ambient romanticism of the day. That is also a completely valid approach.
What is not recommended: spending the day in resentful or sad comparison to coupled people, or consuming social media content that makes you feel worse about your circumstances. That is an optional choice, and you don’t have to make it.
Galentine’s Day alternatives: Gather your closest friends — regardless of gender — for a dinner, a movie night, a spa evening, or any shared activity that celebrates the relationships you do have rather than the one you don’t currently. These evenings are frequently described as the best Valentine’s Days people have had.
Part Seven: Valentine’s Day Flowers — A Complete Guide
Flowers are one of the oldest Valentine’s Day gifts. Here is everything you need to know about buying them well.
What to Buy
Red roses are the classic choice and will always be appropriate. If you are buying red roses, buy them from a reputable florist (not a garage forecourt or a petrol station bucket) and ask for long-stemmed, fully closed buds that will open over the days following February 14.
Mixed bouquets can be more personal than roses alone if you know your partner’s favorite flowers. Peonies, tulips, ranunculus, garden roses, freesia, and sweet peas are all reliably romantic alternatives or additions.
A single stem or small arrangement can be more elegant and personal than a large dramatic bouquet, particularly if accompanied by a handwritten note that explains the choice.
Where to Buy
A local independent florist will almost always produce a better, more original, more carefully made arrangement than a supermarket or a large online florist. Book in advance for Valentine’s Day — local florists fill their Valentine’s orders early and may turn away last-minute requests.
Online flower delivery services (such as Interflora, Bloom & Wild, The Bouqs, Teleflora) are convenient but variable in quality. Read recent reviews before ordering.
Supermarket bouquets are not inherently inferior — some supermarkets carry genuinely good flowers at good prices. The difference is that you are assembling the arrangement yourself rather than having a florist compose it.
Care Tips
Put flowers in water as soon as possible. Cut the stems at a diagonal under running water. Remove any leaves below the waterline. Change the water every two days. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Add flower food if provided.
Part Eight: Valentine’s Day Food — Recipes and Ideas for a Perfect Menu
Food and love are inseparable — the act of feeding someone well is one of the oldest forms of care. Here are complete ideas for a Valentine’s Day menu at home.
Starters
Oysters with mignonette sauce — the most classically romantic starter, with genuine physiological basis (oysters are high in zinc, which supports healthy libido). Mignonette is simply shallots, red wine vinegar, cracked black pepper, and a pinch of salt.
Burrata with roasted cherry tomatoes and basil oil — simple, beautiful, requires minimal cooking, looks extraordinary on the plate.
Prosciutto with melon, fresh figs, and honey — no cooking required, takes 5 minutes to plate, is genuinely delicious.
Soup — a velvety bisque (roasted tomato, butternut squash with crème fraîche, or lobster bisque) served in small cups is elegant and warming.
Mains
Pan-seared scallops with brown butter, lemon, and capers — 8 minutes of active cooking, looks like a restaurant dish, tastes extraordinary.
Beef tenderloin with red wine reduction — requires sourcing good quality beef, involves a hot oven and a simple pan sauce, and produces a main course that feels genuinely special.
Lobster tail with clarified butter — expensive, but for a special evening, beautiful in its simplicity.
Homemade pasta — fresh pasta, made that day, with a sauce of your choice. The act of making pasta together is romantic in itself.
Roasted chicken with herbs and lemon — never underestimate a perfect roast chicken. It is intimate, unfussy, and one of the most comforting meals a person can eat.
Desserts
Chocolate lava cakes — made ahead, 12 minutes in the oven when ready to serve, universally adored.
Pavlova with fresh cream and berries — can be made entirely the day before, assembled at the table.
Chocolate fondue with strawberries, marshmallows, and pound cake — participatory, romantic, requires minimal cooking.
Tiramisu — made the night before, better the next day, tastes luxurious, serves beautifully.
A cheese board — for couples who prefer savory over sweet, a carefully chosen cheese board with honey, fruit, nuts, and excellent crackers can be more satisfying than any dessert.
Drinks
Champagne or Prosecco — the natural choice for Valentine’s Day. A Blanc de Blancs Champagne has the elegance and acidity to pair with most Valentine’s menus.
A good red wine — burgundy or pinot noir for elegance, Barolo or Amarone for a more dramatic evening, a mid-weight Bordeaux if that’s your preference.
A cocktail to start — a classic negroni, a French 75, a Kir Royale (crème de cassis topped with Champagne), or a simple Aperol Spritz.
Non-alcoholic — a sparkling elderflower and rose drink over ice in a champagne flute is as festive as anything alcoholic. A pomegranate mocktail with fresh mint and sparkling water. Ceremonial-grade matcha made with care.
Part Nine: The Language of Love — Writing Your Valentine’s Card
The card or note is often more meaningful than the gift. These principles apply whether you are writing three lines or three pages:
Be specific. “I love you because of who you are” is less powerful than “I love you because of the way you laugh at your own jokes before you’ve finished telling them.” Specific details tell the person you have been paying attention. Generic declarations tell them you wrote a card.
Be honest. Valentine’s Day creates pressure toward performative romanticism that doesn’t match real life. A note that says “I don’t always say this out loud but I want you to know that I think you are extraordinary” is better than florid poetry that doesn’t sound like you.
Reference something real. A memory, a moment, an inside joke, a thing they said last week that you have been thinking about. The shared private vocabulary of a real relationship is the most romantic thing you have.
Acknowledge where you are. If it has been a difficult year, say so. If you are grateful for specific ways they showed up for you, name them. Honest love letters are more moving than pretty ones.
Close with your own words. “From your Valentine” — the phrase allegedly written by Saint Valentine himself in the 3rd century — is still the most quietly perfect way to sign a love letter ever devised.
Part Ten: Valentine’s Day Etiquette — The Questions Nobody Asks Out Loud
Who pays on a Valentine’s Day date? Valentine’s Day dinner etiquette has evolved with broader dating culture norms. If one person planned and made reservations, it is considerate for them to pay or at least initiate payment. If both parties work and earn income, the increasingly common approach is to either split or alternate. The most important thing is to discuss it before the bill arrives — awkward negotiations over the check do not set a romantic tone.
Is it okay to give a practical gift? Yes, if it is something they genuinely want. A kitchen appliance they have been asking for, a subscription service they would actually use, a piece of sports equipment for their hobby — if it is something they will use and love, it is a good gift regardless of its romance quotient.
What if Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday and you can’t do anything special? A small acknowledgment — flowers at the door, a card, a text that says the right thing, a phone call — plus a plan for a celebratory dinner or experience on the weekend. Valentine’s Day the sentiment is portable. Valentine’s Day the date is not.
What about couples who “don’t do” Valentine’s Day? Many couples make a mutual decision not to observe the commercial holiday. This is entirely valid, provided both parties have genuinely and equally agreed to it — and not one person reluctantly going along with the other’s preference. If you “don’t do Valentine’s Day,” make sure both of you are actually content with that.
Can you give Valentine’s Day gifts to children, parents, or friends? Absolutely. Valentine’s Day is rooted in the celebration of love in all its forms. A card for a child. Flowers for a mother. A text to a friend. These are all appropriate, kind, and consistent with the holiday’s original scope — which was always broader than romantic love alone.
Is it too late to do something if you have forgotten? Almost never. A handwritten note and a single flower, delivered today with genuine sincerity, outperform an expensive gift you ordered three weeks ago without thinking about the person at all.
Part Eleven: Valentine’s Day and Children — Teaching Love as a Value
Valentine’s Day, done well for children, is an extraordinary opportunity to teach love as a practice — something you do, not just something you feel.
The classroom exchange. Help your child write their own cards rather than just signing their name to store-bought ones. Even a young child adding a sticker or drawing a heart adds something personal. Teach them the principle: everyone gets a card. No one is left out.
Family valentines. Parents giving children valentines, and children giving them to parents, is a tradition that costs nothing and means everything. A construction-paper heart that says “I love you because you make the best pancakes” is a gift a parent keeps for life.
Teaching by example. Children learn how to love by watching how the adults in their lives love each other. Expressing genuine affection for a partner, a friend, a parent — in the presence of a child — teaches that love is something you name, something you show, something you make time for.
The Meaning at the Center
There is a reasonable argument that Valentine’s Day, in its modern commercial form, has become disconnected from whatever gave it life — that the pressure of the perfect gift and the sold-out restaurant and the performative Instagram post has hollowed out a holiday that was once about something true and personal and specific.
The reasonable counter-argument is that the commercial scaffolding doesn’t prevent the real thing from happening inside it. People do say things on Valentine’s Day that they have been holding back. People do write notes they are glad they wrote. People do make reservations and light candles and feel, if only for an evening, that love is worth celebrating.
The original Valentine allegedly signed his note “from your Valentine” — three words that have been copied, reprinted, stamped, and sold for 1,700 years. They are still the right three words. They mean: I am thinking of you. I wanted you to know. The day gave me the occasion to say it.
You don’t need the day. But the day is here. Use it to say the thing you mean.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
February 14, 2026.
