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The history of Valentine’s Day. The holiday is celebrated in Britain since the XVII century. The origins of Valentine’s Day are rooted in the history of the Roman Empire, when one of the rulers, Claudius II, forbade marriages, because it was believed that the best soldiers are single men. Shakespeare mentions Valentine’s Day as Saint Valentine’s Day in Hamlet, and over the years the popularity of the holiday grew in the UK until it became commercialized in 1797 when a British publisher came out with a guide for young men on various verses he could use on Valentine’s Day that were emotional or sentimental. According to a 2017 study more than half (52%) of the UK population didn't plan to buy a gift for their loved ones for Valentine's Day. 48% didn't even plan on buying a card. However, the study conducted for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) calculated that the people in the UK would spend almost half a billion pounds on Valentine's Day gifts, men The origins of Valentine's Day. One story of the origins of Valentines Day comes from the time of the Roman Empire, under the rule of Emperor Claudius the Second. Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular military campaigns. Claudius the Cruel, as he was known at the time, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military These fascinating facts about Valentine's Day will put the holiday in a whole new light. 1. St. ©2025 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street Around 76% of people in the UK celebrated Valentine’s Day in 2021. And recent data from GWI reveals that of all the ideal ways people would like to celebrate Valentine’s Day, 37% would like to mark it with a trip or holiday – the second most desirable activity behind going out to a restaurant. We might typically associate Valentine's Day with romance, roses and chocolate, but the holiday's history has a lot more to it than meets the eye. From a Roman festival and Christian martyrs to a medieval celebration of spring , we explore the origins of Valentine's Day in more detail Valentine's Day always falls on February 14, meaning that the day of the week varies year on year. In 2025, Valentine's Day will fall on a Friday for the first time since 2020. Where did it come The day was officially named as St Valentine’s Day in 496 AD by Pope Gelasius, back then though, it was a Christian feast day rather than a day about romantic love. That didn’t start until the 1300s and was inspired by the writer, Geoffrey Chaucer, however, records show that the oldest surviving Valentine’s card was sent by Charles, the Because love is in the air! This topic is all about Valentine's Day on 14 February, a traditional celebration of romantic love. In this topic you can: write about Valentine's Day traditions in your country and tell us if you celebrate; watch a video and listen to some members of the LearnEnglish team talking about Valentine's Day UK Armed Forces Day: Multiple Types. Sunday, Jul 6. National Fitness Day: Multiple Types. Valentine’s Day February 14, Lake District: highest bookings for Valentine's Day 2024. When it comes to the most romantic places in the UK, it's no surprise to see the Lake District on our list. This region had the highest number of bookings for Valentine's Day last year, driven by our lodges in Bassenthwaite, Pooley Bridge and Northern Ullswater. Dotted with charming List of the 2025 England holidays or England festivals for 2025. Valentine's Day: Saturday Sat: Feb 15, National Day Of Prayer: Sunday Sun: May 11, Just Go Holidays Limited t/a National Holidays is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486) and which is permitted to advise on and arrange general insurance contracts as an intermediary. Valentine’s Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. In 496 A.D February 14, was declared in the name of St. Valentine but it wasn't until 1537 that St. Valentine's Day was declared an official holiday. England's King Henry VIII declared February Saint Valentines Day: 1 Mar: Sunday: St Davids Day. St David is the patron saint of Wales: 15 Mar: Sunday: Mothers day - Mothering Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent) 17 Mar: Tuesday: St Patricks Day (Bank holiday Northern Ireland). The Feast of Saint Patrick. 20 Mar: Friday: Northward, Vernal or March equinox - First day of Spring (12 Hours of Valentine's Day (February 14) In the UK, couples often celebrate Valentine's Day by giving gifts to one another and writing verses of love to be published in newspapers or magazines. Many couples also spend the evening celebrating with a special meal. Occasionally, children send valentines to one another to celebrate friendship. April Holidays in England. Easter Monday and Good Friday, which are sanctified three days before Easter and are accompanied by fasting and praying in church, may both fall in April. May Holidays in England. There is a public holiday that used to mark the passage from spring to summer and was recognized by the Celts two thousand years ago. Learn about how countries across the globe celebrate Valentine's Day including February 14 traditions from France, Italy, Germany, Finland, England and more.
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