What is the date of Valentine's Day?

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 each year.

The date comes from the Western Christian feast of Saint Valentine, a martyr commemorated on February 14. An eighth-century sacramentary records the feast, although the historical identities and stories of the Valentines honored on that date are not completely certain. At least two prominent candidates were Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni.

The holiday’s romantic meaning developed much later. In the 14th century, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer connected Saint Valentine’s feast with courtly love and the pairing of birds in early spring. By the 18th century, February 14 had become a popular occasion in England for exchanging cards, flowers, and confectionery.

A common mix-up is confusing the Western date with Eastern Orthodox observances. Some Eastern Orthodox traditions commemorate Saint Valentine on July 6, while another Valentine is commemorated on July 30. Those dates do not change the standard answer for the widely observed Valentine’s Day holiday.