Valentine's Day 2027 Countdown

Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century. The romantic association likely began in the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds paired up in mid-February. The exchange of handmade valentines became popular in the 18th century, and by the 19th century, mass-produced greeting cards made the tradition accessible to all. Today, it is the second-largest card-sending holiday after Christmas, with over a billion valentines exchanged annually.

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Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, but which Valentine? There were actually several saints named Valentine in the early days of Christianity. The most popular legend tells of a priest named Valentine who lived in 3rd-century Rome under Emperor Claudius II. Claudius banned marriage for young men, believing single soldiers fought better. Valentine defied the emperor and secretly married young couples — an act of love and courage that got him executed on February 14th, 269 AD.

Another legend says Valentine was a prisoner who fell in love with his jailer's daughter. Before his execution, he sent her a letter signed 'From your Valentine' — the origin of that famous phrase. Yet another story claims Valentine was killed for helping Christians escape harsh Roman prisons. Regardless of which legend is true, the name Valentine became associated with romance and secret love.

Valentine's Day as we know it began in the Middle Ages in France and England. The medieval belief was that birds chose their mates on February 14th, which helped establish the day as a romantic occasion. Geoffrey Chaucer first wrote about Valentine's Day as a romantic holiday in 1382 in his poem 'Parliament of Fowls.' By the 15th century, lovers were exchanging handmade paper valentines with verses and drawings.

Commercial valentines appeared in the 1840s in America when Esther Howland, known as the 'Mother of the Valentine,' started mass-producing elaborate cards made with lace, ribbons, and colorful pictures. Today, over 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year — second only to Christmas. And Cupid, the chubby cherub with bow and arrow? He comes from the Roman god of love, son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty.