When is Valentine's Day?

Sweet and romantic festival of Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 every year in most countries around the world. In US, UK, Canada, France, India etc people celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14. Date of the festival has its origin from the February Fertility festival of Feast of Lupercalia celebrated in pagan times during mid-February. Later, the feast of Lupercalia was turned into a Christian celebration and named Valentine's Day to honor the date of martyrdom of Saint Valentine. According to legends, Saint Valentine was a patron saint of lovers who was executed on February 14. Scholars also believe that February 14 was chosen for the romantic festival of Valentine's Day because of the popular belief in England and France that birds began to look for their mate from February 14.

Valentine's Day Date in Japan and China

People in Japan and China celebrate Valentine's Day on different dates. In Japan Valentine's Day is celebrated on two dates. On the popular Valentine's Day date of February 14, females present gifts of chocolates to their boyfriends or other men close to them. On March 14, people of Japan celebrate White Day as an extension of the Valentine's Day festival celebrated a month earlier. On White Day it's the turn of the men to pamper women who expressed their love and affection for them on 14th February.

People in China celebrate Valentine's Day on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese Calendar. The unique date of the festival traces its origin from the popular folk legend of China that narrates the story of a beautiful seventh daughter of Emperor of heaven who married a poor cowherd, Niu Lang. The couple was separated and turned into stars. They were allowed to meet once only on the 7th day of 7th lunar month. Chinese Valentine's Day is better known as ‘Festival of the Double Sevens'or Qi Xi - ‘The Night of Sevens' The other popular names for the festival are Seven Sister's Festival' and ‘Daughter's Festival'.