Valentine Week Days List 2023

All About Valentine’s Day

Love is an emotion that is universal. Some of the greatest books, movies, and art works ever created were inspired by this emotion, which has the power to rob people of their sanity and very lives. Romeo and Juliet and Casablanca have a timeless appeal that flows from their theme of love, even if it is star-crossed. It is said that all the world loves a lover, so it is not surprising that a day in the calendar is dedicated to lovers all over the world. It is none other than Valentine’s Day. Celebrated on February 14, Valentine’s Day celebrates romantic love. Though it’s a Christian holiday, it has become more secular over the years, and lovers in most countries celebrate it with great fervor.

It is also a holiday that has great commercial significance, as lovers tend to exchange Valentine’s Day cards and chocolates on this day. They also gift each other jewelry and flowers, especially red roses.

Interestingly, Valentine’s Day is also celebrated by friends, colleagues, family members, and schoolchildren nowadays. It has expanded the definition of love to include all forms of the emotion instead of limiting it to romantic love alone.

The History of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day gets its name from an ancient Christian martyr, Saint Valentine. But there is some confusion about it, as there are two Saint Valentines - Saint Valentine of Rome and Saint Valentine of Terni. The Roman emperor, Claudius II, executed them both on February 14 for the ‘crime’ of converting Romans to Christianity and also for performing miracles. As their stories are rather similar, some also feel that both men were actually one person.

It was in the 5th century that February 14 was designated as the feast day of St. Valentine’s by Pope Gelasius I.

The Legends Surrounding St. Valentine

There were many stories about St. Valentine which seem to have some bearing on why his feast day came to be associated with lovers. One very popular story says that he helped Roman soldiers to get married. The emperor supposedly banned marriage so that men would go to fight in the war. But some historians aver that this is not true.

Yet another popular story is that when St. Valentine was in prison, he fell in love with the jail warden's daughter. Before the emperor's men beheaded him, he supposedly wrote her a love letter, signing it “Your’s Valentine.”

The Roman Festival of Lupercalia

The Feast of Valentine is also linked to Lupercalia, a pagan festival of the Romans, celebrated on February 15. It had nothing to do with romance or love, though. On the contrary, Lupercalia was marked by violence and ritual sacrifice to appease Lupercus, the Roman God of Fertility. But Pope Gelasius I did not approve of Lupercalia, so it is unlikely that he would have glorified it by designating it as the Feast day of St. Valentine.

Valentine’s Day in the Medieval Period

Valentine’s Day probably became associated with lovers due to Geoffrey Chaucer, a renowned English poet and writer of the Middle Ages, who is the author of the bestselling work called The Canterbury Tales. He had written a poem, “The Parliament of Fowls,” in which he wrote that “Seynt Valentynes day” is the day birds supposedly chose their mates.

But Chaucer may not actually have been referring to the mating season of birds. It was probably a reference to the marriage of King Richard II (1367–1400) with Anne of Bohemia.

Valentine's Day and Love Letters

After Chaucer’s poem was published, people began to associate February 14 with the day of love. A French poem penned by Charles Duke of Orleans is supposedly the first recorded Valentine’s letter. It is dated 1415. Duke was a prisoner in the Tower of London and wrote it to his wife.

The tradition of exchanging letters and poems on this day reached the United States in the 1800s. Satin and lace were used to make the first versions of Valentine cards. Flowers, ribbons, and images of the God of love, Cupid, or love birds adorned them.

Valentine’s Day and Chocolates

Other industries were quick to see the potential of the day and began to compete for a share of the Valentine’s Day market pie. During the Victorian age, Richard Cadbury, the name behind Cadbury chocolates, began to market heart-shaped chocolate boxes which had flowers and cherubs as decorations. Thus, chocolates became an integral part of Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Valentine’s Day and the Church

The Roman Catholic Church removed the Feast day from its calendar in 1969. The Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius replaced it. However, some Catholic churches that still follow the traditional Catholic calendar continue to observe the Feast day of St. Valentine. In Balzan, Malta, where relics of St. Valentine were supposedly found, Catholics observe the Feast.

Other Christian denominations that follow this practice are the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches. For Eastern Orthodox denominations, the Feast of St. Valentine is on April 24, July 6, or July 30.

Valentine’s Day Elsewhere

Valentine’s Day is no longer a religious holiday. Many countries celebrate it, infusing it with their own culture and traditions.

In Norwich, United Kingdom, for instance, a person by the name of Jack Valentine makes random visits to people and leaves Valentine’s Day gifts at their doors. He often leaves useless gifts or plays pranks on people.

For South Koreans, the celebration extends for many months. On February 14, women woo their lovers with chocolates and flowers. Their partners respond in a similar fashion on March 14 or White Day. Those who don’t have a partner observe April 14 or Black Day to mourn their single status.

February 14 is the day of choice for lovers in many countries to propose marriage or tie the knot.

Valentine’s Day Dates

Valentine’s Day is not celebrated in February in all countries.

In Brazil, Valentine’s Day (Dia de São Valentim) is on July 12. It falls on the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day, who is the patron saint of matchmaking. The decision to observe the holiday in July occurred in 1948. It was a commercial decision made to increase sales during the month when sales were very low.

In Uruguay, people celebrate it in October. Again, it depends on the sales cycle.

Colombians celebrate Día del Amor y Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship) on the 3rd Saturday of September.

In Bolivia, the day of love falls on September 21, which is the 1st day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Welsh people celebrate Saint Dwynwen on January 25. He is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Welsh men gift intricately carved love spoons made of wood as their token of love to their lovers.

The Chinese day of love is on the 7th day of the 7th Chinese lunar month. The Qixi Festival, also called the Double Seventh Festival, celebrates the love story of Niulang, a herder, and Zhinü, a weaver girl. It has been around since the days of the Han Dynasty.

Tu B’Av, which is on the 15th of Av month in the Jewish calendar, is the Jewish day for lovers. In Israel, there are many cultural events on this day. It is also a popular day for making proposals and conducting weddings.

Valentine’s Week

In some countries like India, the celebrations last for a week. Valentine’s Week days begin on Feb 7 with Rose Day, followed by Propose Day (Feb 8), Chocolate Day (Feb 9), Teddy Day (Feb 10), Promise Day (Feb 11), Hug Day (Feb 12), and Kiss Day (Feb 13).

Argentina celebrates La Semana de la Dulzura (Week of Sweetness) in July, during the 1st week. It began as a marketing campaign for candy. Lovers celebrate it by exchanging kisses for chocolates and candy.

St. Valentine and Epilepsy

St. Valentine is not only the patron saint of lovers. He is the patron saint of beekeepers, young people, and epileptics, as well. Another name for epilepsy is Valentine’s Malady. But the connection between them is unknown. Some feel that “Valentine” sounds like the word for “fallen” in German. Since epilepsy was the 'falling disease', Valentine became the patron saint of epileptics.

Valentine’s Day 2023 is on February 14 in India.