Finland celebrates Valentine's Day as Ystävänpäivä, or Friend's Day.
The Finnish name shifts the emphasis from romantic couples to friendship and wider social bonds. People may still acknowledge partners, but the occasion is especially associated with remembering friends. This makes Finland's observance distinct from the strongly romance-centered image common in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Finnish term is also connected with Estonia's terminology. Estonia originally used valentinipäev, a direct reference to Valentine's Day, and later adopted sõbrapäev, meaning Friend's Day, as a calque of the Finnish expression. The two countries therefore share a notable Nordic-Baltic variation on the holiday.
Ystävänpäivä should not be confused with a separate Finnish national holiday or with a celebration limited only to platonic friendships. Romantic partners can participate too; the defining difference is that friendship is explicitly included at the heart of the name and custom. February 14 remains the date of the celebration.