essay for valentine's day

How to Write 50+ Paragraphs on St. Valentine's Day+Samples

What Do We Know About the History of the Valentine's Day 

Valentine's Day could easily be one of the most celebrated holidays around the world. The 14th of February is the perfect day of the year to express love to our significant others, crushes, friends, and family members in the form of flowers, gifts, chocolates, etc. Exchanging presents, cards, and love letters for the occasion is a fun process, but where do these traditions of Valentine's Day originate from? 

There are three variations of the narrative behind the big question of 'Who was the real Saint Valentine?'. According to the Catholic Church, Saint Valentine was a priest in 3rd-century Rome under the reign of Emperor Claudius. He decided that the soldiers in the national army performed better if they remained single rather than married or in a relationship. That is why he forbade marriage for young men. The latter turned out to be unacceptable for Saint Valentine, and he continued to marry young couples under his blessings in secret.

Another version of the story suggests that Valentine used to free Christians from the prisons of Rome, and during his captivity, he sent small notes to his lover, often ending the letter signed as: 'From your Valentine.' That is probably why small letters and notes exchanged annually on the 14th of February are called 'Valentines.'

Even though we do not have the precise backstory after which Valentine we celebrate Valentine's Day, we know for sure that he was heroic. That's because he devoted himself to his object of love, and he might as well have encouraged others to be freely in love even though the 3rd-century Roman legislation did not give him a right to do so.

Since the 14th century, lovers have exchanged 'Valentines' to symbolically celebrate their affection for each other. Whether you have already found your significant other or you're willing to wish 'Happy Valentine's Day' to your crush this 14th of February, we've got you covered with the most heartwarming short Valentine's poems for her or him.

Follow the article for useful tips about how to construct funny Valentine's day messages, Valentine's day wishes, and paragraphs for either your romantic partner, family member or best friend.

Meanwhile, if you're a high-school student looking for samples to write about the history and significance of Valentine's Day, we have already prepared a Valentine's Day essay sample for you! You can just as well use our essay writer platform. Our experts are always ready to craft a perfect essay for you.

Celebrating Valentine's Day Around the World 

Time by time Saint Valentine's Day became one of the most celebrated holidays around the world. Many countries worldwide differ in their traditional ways of celebrating and their selection of time frame for Valentine's feast day. Let's look closer at the distinct customs in different places.

Valentine's Day in the USA 

Since the 19th century, people around the USA have celebrated Valentine's Day on the 14th of February. When it comes to school students, every one of them makes Valentine's Day wishes for their classmates and teachers. Therefore, Valentine's Day easily becomes the celebration of friendships among young children in elementary and secondary schools. Exchanging cards full of cute Valentine poems and heart-shaped candies, otherwise known as 'conversation hearts,' is an inseparable part of a cute Valentine's Day celebration in the USA. There is no such thing as 'too much candy' when it comes to American Valentine's Day. But a little chocolate and other sweet treats have been a typical way of sending lovely messages to lovers or crushes since the first mass-produced valentines in America.

In the USA, Valentine's Day is to celebrate romantic love and show adoration to family members, best friends, and, most importantly, dear parents. Americans usually express their gratitude and love towards them through small Valentine's day messages saying 'Happy Valentine's Day to the best mom in the world,' 'Happy Valentine's to the most caring grandma,' etc. 

You can express love and devotion to your dear ones through gifts such as flowers or jewelry. Spending a romantic holiday at a nice restaurant is also typical for American couples on the 14th of February. Overall, they tend to openly and genuinely appreciate the existence of their beloved on the loveliest day of the year. 

Spain's Valentine's Day 

Unlike the USA, Spain varies in its way of honoring love since most Spanish people regard Valentine's Day as just another form of consumerism, otherwise known as mass-produced valentines. That is why they avoid buying gifts on Saint Valentine's Day, celebrated on different dates in each city. So, while people in Barcelona celebrate Valentine's on the 23rd of April, others in Valencia do the same on the 9th of October. For all the Spanish people out there, our service has prepared lines of heartfelt valentine paragraphs for April and October, which you can check out below. 

Japan's Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine's Day in Japan is not a single occasion. There are two distinct holidays for Japanese men and women to celebrate their love for each other; on the 14th of February, women turn to give gifts to their partners as a romantic symbol, while on the 14th of March, men do the same. However, the 14th of March is not just a regular Valentine's Day type; rather, it is known as the 'White Day,' which means that men prepare gifts dominated by white color for their lovers. So, while you prepare something white for your significant other, make sure to fill your valentine day speech with romantic poems to win the heart of the woman of your dreams. 

France's Valentine's Day

French were prone to certain traditions like 'drawing for love' back in the day. People gave themselves the freedom to choose partners based on their preferences by calling out to each other from the windows. There was also a spark of witchcraft in the ancient Valentine's traditions. The lovers did not only express affection towards each other on Valentine's Day but also hatred. Desperate couples burned each others' images on a bonfire if their partners did not turn out as well as expected. Not even the longest Valentine's Day paragraphs could melt their hearts once they feel betrayed or disappointed by their partners. As we see, a typical French love story in the middle ages was full of drama.

Italy's Valentine's Day

Italians perceive the roots of Saint Valentine's Day as Spanish. That is why they ignored the value of gift-giving on Valentine's Day. Nevertheless, present-day Italy is completely different since couples have actively started exchanging typical Valentine's gifts like roses, candy, jewelry, chocolate, etc. It is worth mentioning that chocolate-covered hazelnut, called Baci Perugina, is a unique Italian type of candy for Valentine's Day. It's the type of chocolate reserved for the one and only person who has captivated the hearts of an Italian. So, if an Italian man or woman ever gives you the precious Baci Perugina, know that it's not just a regular type of chocolate. Baci Pergunas represent Valentine's Day in Italy.

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Valentine's Cards: How to Greet

A few pointers on how to send heartfelt Valentine's Day greeting cards to your close ones would not be a dumb idea seeing that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. First, make it genuine. Start by reflecting on why this particular individual is important to you. The reasons might include their unique personality and physical characteristics, such as their kind spirit, caring nature, stunning smile, and whatever you find exquisite about that special person. You can even use special valentine's day greeting images to make their day brighter and more creative. 

Valentine's Day Paragraphs 

Although general tips like the one above may be beneficial, we have also prepared long Valentine's Day paragraphs that you can use to demonstrate how much you value your significant other.

I'm incapable of imagining myself not in love with you. My feelings for you are so fierce that I feel your presence wherever I go, and even when you are not with me, I feel like you are around. You are the soundtrack of my mind; the thought of you never leaves me. My Day begins and ends with you. I go to sleep feeling happy, knowing I will see you in my dreams. I have always wanted you to be my only Valentine, love you loads. 

I admire your ability to remain calm in any situation. I admire your compassion and understanding. I never understand how you can be so certain about everything. I've given up figuring out where all that assurance comes from.

You look stunning each day, and your beautiful positive energy attracts me the most. You never fail to make me fall in love and let me see the world through rose-colored glasses.

Even though you are the most unromantic girl I have ever met, and you sometimes struggle with showing off the slightest bit of emotion, I still think that you are the most wonderful treasure I have been living for all this time.

You are the personification of love, and I will not give you up for anything in the world. I adore you and wish you the most romantic Valentine's Day ever.

May those Valentine's Day greeting card messages and paragraphs be the source of inspiration for you to create an ever-lasting impression on your person on the upcoming 14th of February. You can use more than one valentines paragraph to enrich your greeting and your valentine day speeches. 

But, as we have already mentioned, this holiday is not only for lovers. If you are willing to project love and appreciation towards your buddies, we have prepared valentines day paragraphs for best friend as well:

You have been my friend through life's storms and uncertainties. We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly together, and I can't imagine life without you. My dear friend, I love you eternally. Happy Valentine's Day.

I cannot help but think of the Day when our boyfriends will be present, and we will be able to spend Valentine's Day with them. Let's keep having fun together for now. Ladies, Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Poems 

Poetry has always been the truest of art forms that allow us to show vulnerability and sentiments in the most emotional moments of our lives. Do you want to make your partner's upcoming Valentine's Day the most memorable? Writing down short valentines poems would project your feelings beautifully. While not everyone might be willing to write a poem themselves, we can still glance through the works of literary geniuses such as Lord Byron, Shakespeare, and Elizabeth Barrett. Their short valentines day poetry will fill you with enormous inspiration. 

While it might be hard to describe the depth of love we might have for another person, Elizabeth Barrett has done it beautifully in her poem 'How do I Love Thee?'. Are you trying to be original while expressing your feelings? This cute valentine poem might do the trick for you:

'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach when feeling out of sight

For the end of Being and ideal Grace.'

Our loved ones are often perceived as the most beautiful creatures from our subjective point of view. Lord Byron caught this very eccentric feature of being in love in his poem 'She Walks in Beauty.' If you are looking for the perfect poem to light up the Day for the woman of your dreams, Byron's masterpiece would be a perfect valentine's poem for her:

Shakespeare, the father of English drama, further described how loving someone gives us a peculiar perception of our romantic partner and the outer world in his 'Sonnet 18'. In Shakespeare's period, it was unusual for women to be expressive regarding their affection for men. Nowadays, it is not the issue. So, you can use this and other sonnets as short Valentine's poems for him:

'Shall I compare thee to a summer's Day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date.'

One of the most prolific English Romantic poets, John Clare, has described the beauty of falling in love for the first time in his poem 'First love.' If you find yourself under the impact of inexplicable sensations while you see your first love walking by, or you feel your heartbeat becoming faster and faster as your daydream about them, you could just as well easily relate to the words of John Clare:

'I ne'er was struck before that hour.

With love so sudden and so sweet,

Her face bloomed like a sweet flower

And stole my heart away completely.'

One of the brightest stars of modern American literature, Langston Hughes, surely has felt the senselessness of time while dancing with his loved one. Writing down lines from his poem, 'Juke Box Love Song,' in your Valentine's day card and taking your loved one out for a dancing night would probably be one of the best ideas for Valentine's Day:

'Take Harlem's heartbeat,

Make a drumbeat,

Put it on a record, let it whirl,

And while we listen to it play,

Dance with you till Day,

Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.'

Last but not least, Sidney Lanier has stunningly compared the meeting point of the sun, and the sea far on the horizon to the sweet kisses exchanged between her and her lover. If you are willing to break the silence and reveal your attraction to your crush symbolically on Valentine's Day, then Sidney's poem 'Evening Song' will be a perfect fit for your Valentine's Card:

'Look off, dear love, across the sallow sands,

And mark yon meeting of the sun and sea;

How long they kiss in sight of all the lands,

Ah! longer, longer we.'

Valentines Day Essay Sample

If the ideas mentioned above for Valentine's cards are insufficient and you have also been assigned to write an essay about the history valentine's day cards, or the holiday overall and its importance, we've got you covered! Using the information from the essay in your valentines speech would be just as impressive. If the following example does not meet your requirements, you can always buy essay where our writers can provide you with full service.

Final Thoughts

Since you made it to the article's final section, you have probably set your heart to making the upcoming holiday most memorable for your loved one with our paragraphs for valentines day. Know that our writers are always willing to construct the perfect valentines day essay for you at any time of the Day! Simply order essay online , lay back, and wait for the grade carelessly.

And if you've been assigned to write a definition essay on any topic, you can peacefully browse through our definition essay topics . We believe that our constructed tips will be helpful for you.

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Short Essay about Valentine’s Day 2020

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. It is celebrated every year on 14th of February. It is mainly celebrated in United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Denmark and Australia.

People believe that Valentine’s Day began in Rome. The day holds a strong and exciting historical importance. Besides that, every year we celebrate this day by showing the people around us how much we love and care for them. It is a day when we all show our love for the one we care and for the one who is very special to us.

Valentine’s Day is mostly considered as an international festival celebrating the feeling of love. More than just being a day for the lovers, the day holds bigger importance. It is a day to show and express our love to anyone. When we love our parents, we fail to express it sometime. So, the day is a chance to express our love for our parents, for our family members, and for our friends and closed ones.

The interesting fact about this day is that it is also a holiday for candy. More than one million boxes of chocolate are given for Valentine’s Day every year. Another interesting fact is that Richard Cadbury was the first person to make chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

However, Valentine’s Day celebrates the bond and the relationship between people. It is a day which teaches us how we should express our love, care and respect for anyone who is important in our life. It helps us to feel happy about our loved ones. It also shows us the importance of happiness we feel when we are around the ones who matter to us.

Table of Contents

Question on Valentine’s Day

Why is valentine’s day celebrated.

St. Valentine’s birthday is celebrated as a festival to romantic love, friendship and admiration. 

Is Valentine’s Day just for couples?

More than just being a day for the lovers, the day holds bigger importance. It is a day to show and express our love to anyone. When we love our parents, we fail to express it sometime.

When did Valentine’s Day originate?

people believe that Valentine’s Day began in Rome in fifth century. The day holds a strong and exciting historical importance. Besides that, every year we celebrate this day by showing the people around us how much we love and care for them.

When is Valentine’s Day 2020?

Valentine’s Day 2020 is on Friday, February 14, 2020

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The History of Valentine's Day, and Why We Celebrate

Valentine’s Day may be associated with romance, but the origin of the holiday isn’t exactly romantic. Here’s the history of Valentine’s Day you may not know—plus when Valentine’s Day 2024 is so you can plan.

Haley is a Wisconsin-based creative freelancer and recent graduate. She has worked as an editor, fact checker, and copywriter for various digital and print publications. Her most recent position was in academic publishing as a publicity and marketing assistant for the University of Wisconsin Press

• How did Valentine's Day start?
• Why is Valentine's Day celebrated on February 14th?
• Who was Saint Valentine?
• Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day?
• What is Galentine's Day, and how is it related to Valentine's Day?
• Is Valentine's Day a holiday?
• What is the meaning of Valentine's Day?
• Valentine's Day fun facts
• What are some fun things to do for Valentine's Day?

Whether you love Valentine's Day or hate it, one thing's clear: Valentine's Day history goes way back. And while Valentine's Day is now known for kissing, Valentine's Day gifts, and hard-to-get dinner reservations, the origins of the holiday are far less romantic. Here, the Valentine's Day history that wouldn't make it into a rom-com, featuring a saint, a massacre, and even the sinful nuns of Valentine's Day (seriously!).

When is Valentine’s Day?

First, a quick refresher: Valentine's Day always falls on February 14. Valentine's Day 2024 will be Wednesday, February 14. (But just wait until 2025, when it falls on a Friday!)

At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day, and since then, February 14th has been a day of celebration—though it was generally more religious than romantic.

How did Valentine’s Day start?

Valentine's Day is a fixed day on the calendar that got lumped into a mid-February holiday on the ancient Roman calendar called Lupercalia—which some historians believe is what led to Valentine's Day being all about love. Lupercalia celebrated fertility, and may have included a ritual in which men and women were paired off by choosing names from a jar. In Ancient Greece, people observed a mid-winter celebration for the marriage of the god Zeus and the goddess Hera.

Why is Valentine's Day celebrated on February 14th?

In general, early Christians often opted to celebrate holidays on days that coincide with existing festivals and celebrations (like Christmas and winter solstice), so they placed Valentine's Day on February 14th, while Lupercalia was celebrated on February 15th.

Who was Saint Valentine? (And what does he have to do with chocolate hearts?)

Natalia Ganelin/Getty Images

Not much, it turns out. St. Valentine's Day was a feast day in the Catholic religion, added to the liturgical calendar around 500 AD. The day was commemorated for martyred saints named—you guessed it—Valentine. Differing legends celebrate three different saints called Valentine or Valentinus, but since very little was known about these men and there were conflicting reports of the St. Valentine Day story, the feast day was removed from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar in 1969.

But even though not much is known about the real history of the Saint Valentines on whom the holiday is based, the legend of Saint Valentine has several tellings. One legend says that Saint Valentine refused to convert to paganism and was executed by Roman Emperor Claudius II. Prior to his execution, he was able to miraculously heal the daughter of his jailer, who then converted to Christianity along with his family. Another legend says a bishop called Saint Valentine of Terni is the true namesake of the holiday; this Saint Valentine was also executed.

But according to others—and this is how Saint Valentine became affiliated with a love-focused holiday—Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who performed weddings for soldiers forbidden to marry, because of a Roman emperor's edict decreeing married soldiers did not make good warriors and thus young men could not marry. This Saint Valentine wore a ring with a Cupid on it—a symbol of love—that helped soldiers recognize him. And, in a precursor to greeting cards, he handed out paper hearts to remind Christians of their love for God.

Because of this legend, Saint Valentine became known as the patron saint of love. The Saint Valentine prayer asks Saint Valentine to connect lovers together, so that two become one, and the couple remembers their devotion to God.

While the Saint Valentine story set the groundwork for establishing the day as a holiday for romantic love, what truly solidified the connection between Saint Valentine and love was a poem by medieval author Geoffrey Chaucer in 1375, which historians consider the origin of the "modern" celebration of Valentine's Day, where we celebrate our romantic partnership with one other person.

Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, the era of courtly love, when broad, romantic statements of devotion—poems, songs, paintings—celebrated partnership. By the end of the 15th century, the word "valentine" was being used to describe a lover in poems and songs of the day, and in the 18th century, a book called The Young Man's Valentine Writer was published in England. By the mid-19th century, mass-produced paper Valentine's Cards were being created (though DIY Valentine's card ideas are still worth trying), and Valentine's Day as we know it was born.

The truth about Valentine's Day history is that the romantic holiday isn't immune to tragedy. During Prohibition in Chicago, seven men were killed by a gang organized by Al Capone on Feb. 14, 1929. The Valentine's Day Massacre became a flashpoint in Prohibition history, with police and lawmakers going after the gangs and mobs that had formed in cities to control then-illegal substances like alcohol.

What is Galentine's Day, and how is it related to Valentine's Day?

A modern (and fun!) take on Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day has been a recent addition to Valentine's Day history. It seems to have been popularized by Amy Poehler's character Leslie Knope on  Parks and Recreation. It's a day to celebrate the friends that you love. It's celebrated on February 13 (leaving you plenty of time to celebrate your mate on official Valentine's Day the following day). Galentine's Day gifts have become a nice way to celebrate the people who mean so much to you.

Is Valentine's Day a holiday?

While many people celebrate Valentine's Day in all kinds of different ways, it's no longer an official Catholic holiday—and unfortunately for all the romantics out there, it's not an official bank holiday or day off (though you can always take the day off for a special day with your significant other!).

What is the meaning of Valentine’s Day?

Over the years (and centuries), Valentine's Day has been a religious celebration, an ancient ritual day, and a commercial holiday. All that change means the meaning of Valentine's Day is truly whatever you want it to be: You can skip the celebrations completely, buy yourself some chocolate or flowers, or express your love and appreciation for the people in your life, whether they're co-workers, romantic partners, friends, or family members.

Valentine's Day fun facts

Want to impress your friends and family with your Valentine's Day knowledge (or just win your Valentine's Day trivia contest at the local pub)? Check out these Valentine's Day fun facts:

• The average Valentine's Day gift giver spends nearly $200 on Valentine's Day gifts and goodies—for about $26 billion overall.

• While most people send out nice messages for the holiday, Victorian-era folks sometimes used valentines to turn down a suitor, called a vinegar valentine.

• More than 250 million roses are produced for Valentine's Day—with red roses making up nearly two-thirds of that number.

Liliboas/Getty Images

• Valentine's Day is one of the most popular days to propose. (In fact, if you got engaged between December and February, you're in the zone when the most proposals happen.)

• The color red and the heart shape first started showing up in medieval art during the 14th and 15th century.

• If you don't make a big deal about Valentine's Day, you're not alone. A YouGov survey found that only 30% of Americans thought it was a real special occasion—with most people liking holidays like New Year's Eve, Halloween, Labor Day, and Memorial Day more than the day of love.

What are some fun things to do for Valentine's Day?

You can celebrate the day of love however you want—even if it's just through self-love. Some ideas that could inspire you:

• Plan a nice dinner out

•  Watch a romantic movie (at the theater or cozy at home)

• Cook up a fancy romantic meal at home (or just a great Valentine's Day dessert )

• Host a Valentine's Day party

• Do some fun Valentine's crafts with your family

• Curl up with a steamy romance novel

• Write your mate a love letter (and don't forget to include a love quote or two!)

• Opt for some very flattering candlelight (with a few of our favorite romantic candles )

• Indulge in a relaxing bath (for one or two!)

National Retail Federation. Consumers plan to Increase Valentine’s Day spending to nearly $26 billion .

Society of American Florists. Valentine's Day floral statistics .

YouGov. Valentine’s Day ranks behind just about every major holiday among Americans . 2022.

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History of Valentine’s Day

By: History.com Editors

Updated: February 14, 2024 | Original: December 22, 2009

Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Wednesday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

But who is this mysterious saint and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the meaning and history of Valentine’s Day, from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England.

The Legend of St. Valentine

The history of Valentine's Day—and the story of its patron saint—is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl—possibly his jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his confinement.

Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure. By the Middle Ages , perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Origins of Valentine’s Day: A Pagan Festival in February

While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial—which probably occurred around A.D. 270—others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia . Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide.

Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage.

Valentine's Day Meaning: A Day of Romance and Love

Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed—as it was deemed “un-Christian”—at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love.

During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance. The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules,” writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt . (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

Who Is Cupid?

Cupid is often portrayed on Valentine’s Day cards as a naked cherub launching arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. But the Roman God Cupid has his roots in Greek mythology as the Greek god of love, Eros. Accounts of his birth vary; some say he is the son of Nyx and Erebus; others, of Aphrodite and Ares; still others suggest he is the son of Iris and Zephyrus or even Aphrodite and Zeus (who would have been both his father and grandfather).

According to the Greek Archaic poets, Eros was a handsome immortal played with the emotions of Gods and men, using golden arrows to incite love and leaden ones to sow aversion. It wasn’t until the Hellenistic period that he began to be portrayed as the mischievous, chubby child he’d become on Valentine’s Day cards.

Valentine’s Day Greetings and Gifts

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. 

By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.”

Today, according to Hallmark, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (more cards are sent at Christmas ).

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Valentine’s Day Across the Curriculum: Exploring the History, Literature, Economics, Science, Math and Psychology of Love and Romance

By Katherine Schulten

• Feb. 13, 2019

Updated: Feb., 2020

Is there a place for love and romance — or, at least, reading, writing and research about academic aspects of it — in your classroom?

Try some of our ideas, below, though make sure to first preview the Times articles linked from each to determine their appropriateness for your students.

We’d also be delighted to hear what you do (or don’t do!) to mark this holiday in your classroom; please leave a note in the comments.

Language Arts

Write Personal Essays, Stories and Poems about Relationships

— In this article ten New Yorkers tell short personal stories of love and enchantment in the City. In this piece , people share stories of breakups and bad dates. Use these stories or the weekly Modern Love column — in which essayists write about relationships with romantic partners, family members, friends or even beloved animals — as inspiration for your own essays, stories and poems. And if the longer essays are too challenging as models, try the “ Tiny Love Stories, ” each no more than 100 words. What would yours say?

— Or, listen to love with the Modern Love podcast — and find a Reader Idea about using those podcasts to teach narrative writing . If you get really inspired and want to make your own, consider submitting it to our annual Student Podcast Contest this spring. In 2018 one of our winning teams was a teenage couple, Quinn Page and Bailey Osborne, who explored the question, Should your significant other be your best friend?

— Watch love stories via Modern Love videos, like the one below:

Modern Love | A Kiss, Deferred

A 12-year-old girl’s life and love are shattered by the war in bosnia and herzegovina..

— Use the 21 sentence starters, adapted from Times essays and articles about love and relationships, that we’ve compiled in our Passion Prompts: Sentence Starters for Writing About Relationships to get started on your own fiction or nonfiction piece.

Share Your Thoughts on Love and Romance

Respond to our love-and-romance-related writing prompts . (Please note: those published on our old site are no longer open for comment.)

— How Do You Feel About Valentine’s Day?

— How Much of a Romantic Are You?

— How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating?

— Do You Find It Hard to Say ‘I Love You’?

— Should Your Significant Other Be Your Best Friend?

— What Are the Basic ‘Rules’ for Handling Breakups?

— What’s the Best Way to Heal a Broken Heart?

— How Important Do You Think It Is to Marry Someone With the Same Religion?

— Is Dating a Thing of the Past?

— Is Hookup Culture Leaving Your Generation Unhappy and Unprepared for Love?

— Could Following These Directions Make You Fall in Love With a Stranger?

— Have You Ever Been in Love?

— Have you ever imagined your own wedding?

Write Letters of Love and Appreciation

— Write a love letter — to your crush, a friend, a pet, a place or even a favorite possession. Use these drawings, letters, poems, telegrams and letters created by famous New Yorkers as inspiration. Or, answer our Student Opinion question, “ What Does the World Need to Know About an Important Person in Your Life? ” that was inspired by a popular Modern Love essay, “ You May Want to Marry My Husband .”

— You could also try to send a Valentine’s Day appreciation to the people who have played important roles in your life. In this essay , a writer tells everyone from her fifth grade crush to her hairdresser to her therapist what they mean to her. Who would be on your list?

Read and Write About Weddings

— Using the weekly Vows or Mini-Vows columns in the Weddings section as inspiration, interview a couple about their relationship. (How did they meet? What are the most memorable moments in their history together? What makes them well-suited to each other?) Write up what you learn in a short and entertaining Vows-style narrative and illustrate your story with a photo. Or, make a video, like this one about the first-ever same-sex couple to appear in the column, in 2002.

— Read about 10 inspirational marriage proposals Times readers submitted in 2009, then write a short skit that depicts an original and memorable marriage proposal between characters you invent.

Take Some Romance-Themed Literacy Quizzes

— Match the besotted, thwarted, inappropriate or (more rarely) happy character from classic works of literature with his or her beloved via this quiz .

— What words belong in the 21 blanks of our Valentine’s Day fill-in ? You can fill them in from your own imagination, “Mad-Libs”-style, or choose from a scrambled list of the words that originally appeared in this 2010 Modern Love column.

— E.L.L. students might enjoy our interactive quiz and teaching suggestions for Valentine’s Day that are inspired by a fun Times article about one offbeat way to spend the holiday.

History and Psychology

Learn About Love and Marriage Through the Ages and Across the Globe

— What do primary documents from different eras tell us about attitudes toward love, romance and marriage? Read this Op-Ed piece that features Victorian-era “amorous advertisements,” taken from the pages of The New York Herald, and compare them with similar ads, from Craigslist or elsewhere, today.

— Look inside a vast collection of cards, from as early as the 1680s, featuring pop-ups, cutouts and Civil War soldiers in " Three Centuries of Valentines Offer 12,000 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’. ” Compare the words, images and sentiments to Valentines cards today. What’s changed? What’s remained the same?

— Or, go on a hunt through Times Machine , as we did in this post , putting in the search term “Valentine’s Day” to see how the holiday was celebrated, and reported on, in Times history.

— Just what are we celebrating when we celebrate Valentine’s Day? Where did this holiday come from and why do we care about it so much? Read this article about major Valentine’s Day theories , from ancient Rome to the present. Then, do your own research to see what other histories you can find. Which do you find the most compelling and why?

— Where in the world is Valentine’s Day, or a tradition like it, celebrated? How does it differ from celebrations in the U.S.? For instance, read “ ‘You Can’t Ban Love’: Pakistanis Defy a Valentine’s Day Prohibition ” to learn about how the Islamabad High Court banned Valentine’s celebrations across Pakistan, deeming them “against the teachings of Islam” and a sign of growing Western influence — and how some are taking a risk by celebrating anyway. Or, read about the day sometimes called Russian St. Valentine’s Day and what it honors.

— The speed and the scope of the gay rights movement has been “astonishing” compared to that of movements for African-Americans’ or women’s rights, The Times wrote in a 2013 piece, “ A Sea Change in Less Than 50 Years as Gay Rights Gained Momentum .” Two years later a Supreme Court ruling made same-sex marriage a right nationwide in the United States. What do you know about the history of this movement in the United States? Elsewhere in the world? Use Times search to learn more, and to see where L.G.B.T.Q. issues stand today.

Test a Psychological Experiment

— Here’s how “To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This,” one of the most popular-ever posts on NYTimes.com. It begins:

More than 20 years ago, the psychologist Arthur Aron succeeded in making two strangers fall in love in his laboratory. Last summer, I applied his technique in my own life, which is how I found myself standing on a bridge at midnight, staring into a man’s eyes for exactly four minutes.

Read the essay and discuss whether or not you believe this could actually work — or put it to the test by experimenting with a partner and the 36 Questions That Lead to Love. After, consider the questions we ask in our related Student Opinion question : What makes two people fall in love? Is it fate or chemistry? Or could it simply be having the chance to get to know someone intimately in a short period of time?

— Or, read another of the most popular Modern Love columns of all time, “What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage,” and learn about the behavioral techniques the writer learned from a dolphin trainer to “nudge” her husband “a little closer to perfect.” You might then try out similar techniques, whether in the context of a relationship, a bad habit of your own, or as a way to “nudge” your school or community on a particular issue or behavior.

Investigate and Advise the “Romance Industry”

What are the economics of Valentine’s Day and the romance industry in general? Check out pieces on everything from the reason behind the 2019 dearth of Sweethearts candies to how the world’s top flower market gets ready for Valentine’s Day . Then, choose a business, industry or local store that thrives on Valentine’s Day and investigate how it advertises, what special products it offers, how its services or offerings have changed over the years. (For instance, this 2020 article reports that Finally, this article reports that “the sharing economy has come for the flower industry” thanks to “climate-conscious romantics.”) What advice would you give this business? Why?

Or, focus only on the economic impact of online dating, and research the various services, like online dating coaches , that have grown up around it. How do these businesses work? Why, according to this article , are they fairly easy to start but hard to grow? Where do you think this industry will go in the future? Why?

In fact, online dating has become such a big business that, according to reports filed with the Federal Trade Commission, Americans looking for love lost at least $143 million to scammers last year . What advice might you give a friend or relative to make sure they stay safe?

Be a Romance Entrepreneur

Invent your own Valentine’s Day product, service or app. For instance, what gifts would you add to this T Magazine list for those who are “indifferent, hurt, on the run or dumped?”

Tell Someone You Love Them — With Economics

— Write a Valentine’s message using the language of economics. The Economix Blog reports on Twitter #FedValentines like “You had me at QE1″ and “I’d like to borrow you overnight and then hold you to maturity.”

— In “How to Be a Better Valentine, Through Economics,” a professor at Stanford recommends three simple steps to be smarter at signaling your love for someone. What advice do you find most interesting? Why?

Budget for Romance

— Plan a romantic getaway or dinner on a budget, using Times resources. If you had, say, $100 (or $25, or $5) to spend on Valentine’s Day, how could you get the most bang for your buck? Use this lesson plan with the Valentine’s Day Times Topics page , which includes recipes for Valentine’s dinners and suggestions for places to visit, things to do and gifts to give, to plan the best celebration possible.

Fine Arts and Media

Looking for love.

View Slide Show ›

Look for Artistic Manifestations of Love

— In “Love Is in the Air, and in the Art,” a critic first defines several types of love, then looks for manifestations of them in art in New York City — and finds everything from a sculpture called “Sleeping Eros” at the Metropolitan Museum to the bronze figure of Balto, a heroic dog, in Central Park. Where can you find manifestations of love in art in your area?

Create Art to Explore Love and Relationships

— In a work of Op-Art called “Pick Your Cupid,” artist Ji Lee takes the classic cherub figure and remakes it to express everything from “In a relationship, but looking” to “hipster” to “filthy rich.” Choose another classic symbol of love and create versions that say something new, or needed, for the 21st century.

— Create a photo essay or video about some aspect of love and romance in your life, school or community. You could photograph “Where to Hold Hands” in your area, curate images of kisses that like these, show many meanings , document how a local restaurant celebrates Valentine’s Day , create original works of art that modernize older notions of love and relationships , or create a map or graphic that explores your romantic life — real or imagined.

Math, Science and Technology

Analyze a Graphic on the Language of Love

The graph above is from our weekly “ What’s Going On in This Graph? ” feature and is in some way related to love and relationships. Take a closer look and tell us: What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you think is going on in this graph? Read the comments to see what other students had to say and what our moderators from the American Statistical Association replied, then then add your own.

Use Math to Make the Perfect Valentine

“Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a customizable algebraic equation,” writes The Times about Süss, the math widget above:

Like many geometric figures, a heart can be captured in all its curvaceous glory by a single algebraic equation. The equation for a sphere looks simple enough: x²+y²+z²=1. A heart is something more complex: (x²+((1+b)y)²+z²-1)³-x²z³-ay²z³=0 Süss — German for “sweet” — is an interactive widget that allows you to tweak the algebra and customize the heart to your souls’s delight. It was created for Valentine’s Day by Imaginary, a nonprofit organization in Berlin that designs open-source mathematics programs and exhibitions. (You can also visit their widget on its website here .)

Play with the widget and read about how it incorporates the concept of extreme points, or “singularities,” a subject of study in the field of algebraic geometry.

Study the Science of Love

— Find out what happens in the brain when you fall in love , as well as how your brain reacts to being dumped.

— Use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to study the heart. The Times Health section has a special page on Heart Disease and Health , which you could use while doing our lesson plans on advanced technologies used to treat diseases of the cardiopulmonary system , or on looking at how social class affects the health of heart patients .

Learn About Chocolate

How is it made? How can consumers choose the best and most ethically produced bars? This primer can tell you everything you need to know — and can show students how reading about chocolate can teach them fascinating things about science, history, geography, culture, ethics and economics along the way.

Explore the Impact of Technology on Relationships

App Smart | The Dating Game

Apps like happn, bumble and glimpse offer an alternative to tinder..

— Do you use dating apps ? Do you hate them? Are these apps just for hookups, or can you find a serious relationship partner ? Are you interested in alternatives ? In our Student Opinion question, “ How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating? ” debate whether technology has improved love, romance and dating, or hindered it. Where do you stand? Why? To consider ideas, consult this piece by the editor of the Modern Love column about how tech has transformed relationships.

— Does Technology Make Us More Alone? This was one of our most popular Student Opinion questions ever. Watch the related video “ Disruptions: More Connected, Yet More Alone ,” then add your own thoughts and experiences to the conversation.

Does Valentine's Day Matter?

My favorite story about Valentine's Day goes like this: One very beautiful Hollywood wife—married to a man 20 years older than she—is having an affair with a hunky young actor who's just hit it big on a TV show. Valentine's Day is approaching, and both men want to buy her something substantial. "An important piece of jewelry," offers her husband, fired up with Viagra. "Whatever you want," says her young lover, fired up with testosterone. The Hollywood wife thinks about this. Surely she has been presented with an opportunity to score big-time? Advantage must be taken, so she visits a fancy jeweler, picks out an exquisite yellow diamond cocktail ring, and proposes to the jeweler a deal: Her husband buys the ring for her, paying full price. Then her boyfriend "buys" the same ring, except that the jeweler gives 90 percent of the price to the wife without anyone knowing. So now both men have bought the same ring, and not only does the Hollywood wife get the bauble but she gets to wear it with either man because each is under the impression that he gave it to her as a special Valentine's Day gift. She's happy, with plenty of extra spending money. Hunky lover is delighted he gave her such a magnificent present. So is cuckolded husband. And the jeweler walks away with a handsome profit. Satisfaction all around. Valentine's Day, Hollywood-style!

Consider who the winners are on Valentine's Day. The candy stores with their lurid-purple heart-shaped boxes of overpriced chocolates? The cardmakers with their over-the-top messages and flowery designs? The florists, who are busy trying not to get their deliveries mixed up? (Are the exotic orchids for the wife or the mistress? One divorce coming up!) And let's not forget the restaurants. A waiter friend at a Bel Air hotel once told me that all the waiters who worked room service would fight to deliver Valentine's goodies to a curvaceous movie star who checked in every February 14 for a mani-pedi and a full-body massage. She was partial to a club sandwich or two, and when the waiter delivered, she would be lolling in a chair totally nude. Little wonder the staff was fighting! My good friend David Niven Jr. used to throw the Hollywood Valentine's Day party. The dress code for men was black tie; for women, red or white. The ladies—everyone from Farrah Fawcett to Alana Stewart to Jaclyn Smith to Sherry Lansing—pulled out all the stops and looked incredibly glamorous. It was one of those annual parties that if you weren't invited, you stashed your car in the garage and pretended to be out of town! Ah, Hollywood ... the land of hype.

Writing about Valentine's Day makes me think of one of my characters, Lucky Santangelo. She sums up love like this: "Falling in love is like getting hit by a large truck and yet not being mortally wounded. Just sick to your stomach, high one minute, low the next. Starving hungry but unable to eat. Hot, cold, forever horny, full of hope and enthusiasm, with momentary depressions that wipe you out. It is also not being able to remove the smile from your face, loving life with a mad, passionate intensity, and feeling 10 years younger." Yes. Love is special. Love is an all-year-round thing. So do we need Valentine's Day? I'll leave it up to you.

Pictured above: True romance. Dress, $2,495, Vera Wang. 212-382-2184. Headband, $930, Piers Atkinson. piersatkinson.com.

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A Reflection for Valentine’s Day: Love One Another Deeply From the Heart

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 1:22

Hearts! Hearts everywhere! Hearts on sweaters and hearts on earrings. Hearts on cards and hearts on candy. Hearts on billboards and hearts on store windows. Hearts on Facebook and hearts on text messages. Hearts, hearts, hearts!

Chances are you'll see literally hundreds of hearts today because, after all, it is St. Valentine's Day, a day of love, a day of romance, a day of candy and flowers, a day of hearts. In our culture, the heart, or a stylized heart shape, at any rate, is the sign of romantic love.

1 Peter 1:22 makes a strong connection between love and the heart, but it's not the kind of connection that sells cards and candy on Valentine's Day. The main injunction of this verse reads, "Love one another deeply, from the heart." This almost sounds like what you'd read in a Valentine's Day card. But, in fact, the meaning is much different from the romantic norm of most cards.

For one thing, the verb translated here as "love" is, in Greek, agapao , related to the noun agape . This is not the Greek word for romantic or erotic love ( eros ). Rather, it refers to choiceful, self-giving, sacrificial action for the sake of another person. Agape is what you need in a relationship precisely when romance is at its low ebb, because it flows from commitment, not emotion.

But doesn't "Love one another deeply " imply emotion? Not in the original Greek. Peter uses the adverb ektenos , which might better be translated as "eagerly, constantly, or persistently." This adverb is used to convey the quality of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, a prayer of painful persistence (Luke 22:44). We love people ektenos when we hang in there with them, in bad times as well as good times, on Valentine's Day, yes, but also on the day when we'd like to shove them off a metaphorical cliff.

Okay, but Peter says we're to love each other "from the heart." Isn't this about emotion, if not romance? No, not really. English speakers locate emotions in the heart. Speakers of New Testament Greek, however, put them in the bowels or kidneys. The heart, in the language of 1 Peter, was the seat of thinking, willing, choosing, and feeling. The emotional dimension of the inner life isn't absent from the heart, but it isn't the main part either.

So, is love a matter of the heart? Yes, in the sense that love is something we choose to do, being motivated as much by conviction as by emotion. Is love something romantic? Yes, in a way. But the love we find in 1 Peter 1:22 is a different sort of love, a love that transcends feelings and romance, a love that flows from commitment and conscience, a love that perseveres in good times and in bad.

So, today, send hearts and flowers to the one you love. But, today and tomorrow and the next day and every day, love one another deeply, from the heart. Act out of self-giving commitment to what is best for others. Be persistent in loving, even when it's hard. Choose to love because you know it's right.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Can you think of a time when you chose to love, even though your feelings were disengaged or even negative? What happened to the other person? What happened to you? How does "purifying ourselves by obeying the truth" (1 Pet. 1:22) enable us to love each other more consistently?

PRAYER: O Lord, I do give you thanks today for creating us with the capacity for romance. Thank you for the feelings that come when we fall in love, for the happiness of weddings, and for the deep joy that comes from a romance that lives throughout years and years. (Thank you, Lord, that I'm about to celebrate thirty years of marriage in a couple of months.)

But, even more, I thank you for love that is so much more than emotion. Thank you for the committed love of parent for child, husband for wife, friend for friend. Thank you for your love for us, a love that claims us and never gives up on us. Thank you for revealing this love in Jesus Christ, in his life and death, in his words and deeds.

Help me, dear Lord, to love others deeply from the heart. Help me to love them sacrificially. Help me to love them consistently. Help me to love them both when it's easy and especially when it's hard. May I love others with the same love you have shown to me.

All praise be to you, God of love. Amen .

________________________________________________

Feeling the Love at Work

Do you sometimes wonder if you'll find your dream job? Or do you know someone who wonders if their work really matters? Take a look at our series, Feeling the Love at Work . Or, if you know someone who might appreciate encouragement along these lines, join us at The High Calling.

Image courtesy of Laity Lodge , one of our sister programs in the Foundations for Laity Renewal.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Valentines Day — An Analysis of the Narrative in the Movie Valentine’s Day

An Analysis of The Narrative in The Movie Valentine's Day

• Categories: Valentines Day

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Published: Dec 11, 2018

Words: 947 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, film analysis.

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100 Happy Valentine's Day Wishes to Warm Your Honey's Heart

"Happy Valentine's Day, baby... I love you more than words can tell." ❤️

A simple good morning text filled with one of these sweet sentiments is enough to put a smile on any0ne's face—but if you have gone the extra mile and already purchased a Valentine's Day card , adding a sentence or two will only make your recipient love you more. If you need ideas for how to write a love letter or what to write in a Valentine's Day card , these love quotes and relationship quotes will help you spell out how you feel. There's also silly Valentine's Day puns to make your partner laugh, and plenty of simple, heartfelt messages for friends and family, too. There's no need to complicate things, after all!

The best part? Most of these love messages double as Valentine's Day Instagram captions , so you can broadcast the love to all your friends at once. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! ❤️

Valentine's Day Wishes for Partners

• Every day is Valentine's Day when I'm with you, my love.
• Happy Valentine’s Day, baby! My favorite place in the world is next to you.
• To another Valentine's Day spent with the love of my life, and to many more.
• I know Valentine's Day is cheesy and all, but I’ll take any excuse to show you just how much I love you.
• You’re the one. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my whole life.
• Take my love on this special occasion, but know that I love you every day and every moment.
• To my hubby/wife on this Valentine's Day, I'm yours forever.
• Roses are red, violets are blue, life wouldn't be as sweet without you. Happy Valentine's Day!
• Happy Valentine's Day, baby! I love you more than words can tell.
• As if you don't make every day special already, now we get to celebrate V-day together, too. Love you!
• I could celebrate you every day of the year. Happy Valentine's Day, my love.
• Every moment I have spent with you has been special. Thank you for everything.
• You still make me laugh. You still give me butterflies. And I'm still falling for you every single day.
• I would choose you again and again. Happy Valentine's Day to the man/woman of my dreams.
• Thank you for being you and thank you for being mine. You have my whole heart!
• [#] days together and I love you all the same (and then some!).
• There's no one else whose smile brings me such happiness. Thanks for being my honey.
• Loving you is easy. I hope today was full of the same joy you bring to me.
• The more time we spend together, the more we fall in love with each other. Happy Valentine's!
• If I could write you a love song, I would. But I can't sing. Happy Valentine's Day!
• I fell in love with you because of all the small things you don’t even realize you’re doing.
• Every love story is wonderful, but ours is my favorite.
• Like you and me, some things are just meant to be.
• Happy Valentine's Day to the most special person in my life.
• Thanks for being my emergency contact.
• All the heart eye emojis for you today!
• The more time that goes by, the more I fall in love with you. Happy Valentine's!
• I love you more than [insert favorite food here!].
• Happy Valentine's Day to the one I love most.
• I love you, and I love us .
• Thank you for bringing so much love and joy into my life. I love you.
• You're my everything. Happy Valentine's Day!
• I really don't know what I'd do without you. Happy Valentine's Day!
• Are you a banana? Because I find you a- peel -ing.
• I love you more than you'll ever know. Happy Valentine's Day!
• Know why I have a library card? Because I'm checkin' you out.
• We have a forever type of love, baby!
• We've celebrated so many Valentine's Days together, and each one is just as special as the first. I love you!
• You're the reason I am who I am today. Thank you for everything you do, my love!
• Be mine today, tomorrow and forever.
• You make me understand why Valentine’s Day is important. Thank you for loving me.
• Any day that gives me more reasons to kiss you is a great day to me.
• My love, just thinking about you as I sign this card is making me feel all mushy and romantic. Happy V-Day!
• God is good. I know because he gave me you to love.
• I love celebrating us! Happy Valentine's to the best person I know!
• You've filled my life with so much light and love. Here’s to you!
• I couldn’t have picked a better person to give my heart to. Happy Valentine's Day.
• Especially today, I hope you feel how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life.
• Your kindness, your strength, the way you love me… this is why you’re my Valentine. I love you big!

Valentine's Day Wishes for Friends

• Happy Valentine's Day to the person I can't take anywhere, yet don't go anywhere without.
• You're my friend soulmate.
• We're two peas in a pod. Happy Valentine's Day, friend!
• Happy Valentine’s Day! Thanks for being my person.
• I couldn't ask for someone who loves and supports me more than you do.
• Valentine's Day was meant for friends like us to spend together.
• Who wants to be #relationshipgoals when our #friendshipgoals are 100 times better?
• You've literally seen me at my best *and* most embarrassing moments. This Valentine's Day goes out to you!
• You're the only person I'd FaceTime for hours on end. Happy Valentine's Day!
• You'll always have a seat next to me. I love you, friend!
• Besties for the resties!
• Cue the Friends theme song!
• I love you every day, but today's a wonderful excuse to tell you! Happy Valentine's Day.
• To my friend-Valentine: Thank you for all you do to make my life wonderful!
• Happy Galentine's Day to my favorite girlfriends! Wishing you all a beautiful, love-filled day.
• Wishing a very happy Valentine's Day to the person who always has my back.
• Thanks for being my best friend and my partner in crime. Happy Valentine's Day!
• I can't think of anyone with whom I'd rather be sharing this Valentine's Day, friend. Here's to you!
• I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with the sort of love, friendship, and joy you bring to my life every day.
• To my best friend on Valentine's Day: You've made me a better, happier person simply by being yourself. Thank you!
• I can't imagine a single day of the past year without you, friend. Happy Valentine's Day!
• Sorry this card is late, I was trying to catch the February 15th chocolate sales!
• Here’s to a Valentine’s Day filled with good wine, good food, and especially good friends like you!
• Who needs a valentine when I have a best friend like you?
• We’ve been friends for so long that we’re basically married! Love you, bestie.
• Happy Galentine's Day to my BFF. I hope it's as lovely as you are!
• You're one of my favorite people to love, sweet friend.

Valentine's Day Wishes for Kids

• Sending big love for a little guy/girl.
• No one is cooler than you. Happy V-Day, kid!
• A special treat for a special kid. Happy Valentine's Day!
• You're sweeter than any Valentine's Day candy out there!
• Sending great big hugs and kisses to the littlest, most lovable Valentine I know.
• So proud of everything you're accomplishing! Love you, and Happy Valentine's Day!
• Know what I like about you? Everything! Happy Valentine’s Day.
• You are always on my mind and in my heart, dearest son/daughter! Happy Valentine’s Day!
• And the Best Kid Award goes to...you! Happy Valentine's Day!
• Happy Valentine's Day to a sweet daughter/son! I love you so much.
• I love you more than chocolate!
• You make me laugh and smile so much, little one! Here's to you.
• Sending you so many hugs on this very special day!
• Valentine's Day is all about celebrating the ones we love, and I love you !
• May your day be fun, memorable, and most of all, filled with chocolate!
• Happy Valentine's Day! Remember, you're sweet enough even before you gobble up all of this candy.
• Here's hoping your day is just as fun, happy, and sweet as you are.
• I wish I could give you a big hug in-person, but this card will have to do.
• If this card could talk, it would say, "Get me out of this envelope!" And then it would say, "Happy Valentine's Day. I love you!"
• Roses are red. Violets are blue. You’re my Valentine’s Day sweetie, and I’ll always love you!
• You’re my most favorite love bug in the whole wide world!
• You are so loved; I hope you feel that today and every day!
• Know what I like about you? Everything! Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetie.
• I can’t think of a cuter cutie-pie to wish the happiest Valentine’s Day to!

Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.

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