Valentine's Day is celebrated every year on the 14th of February. Originally, Valentine's Day celebrated St. Valentine. Around the years 279 AD, he performed Christian marriages for Roman soldiers against the law, was put in prison, and was beheaded for his beliefs. However, since around year 1400 AD, Valentine's Day has been a holiday mostly about sharing and showing love.
Today's celebrations of Valentine's Day are about romance, love, and friendship. On February 14th , it's not unusual to find couples out on dates at a variety of romantic spots. For example, taking your sweetheart out to dinner is traditional, but sometimes a homemade, man-made dinner is even more romantic.
Additionally, gifts are often exchanged. Normally a greeting card is given, made by hand or bought at the store and with a message of love. Single people or people in relationships send and give each other cards. Single people sometimes send cards with "Will you be my Valentine?" written inside. Being someone's Valentine means you might go on a date, exchange a gift, or perhaps share a kiss.
Many kids in school make Valentine's Day cards for each other on February 14th Cards normally are shaped like hearts or have hearts on them, and can be made out of pink and red paper. These children's cards are expressions of friendship.
The simplest type of Valentine is made by folding a piece of paper in half and cutting out half of a heart shape. Then, when it is unfolded, it makes a whole heart shape. Inside the heart, people can write a message for their Valentine.
Normal gifts include flowers or candy, especially roses and chocolates. Sometimes gifts can even be activities, like going to a movie or even a trip! It can be so romantic that some people choose to propose marriage on Valentine's Day!
All this gift giving means that Valentine's Day is big business for restaurants, jewelry stores, candy shops, flower shops, and places that sell cards. Sometimes thinking of something to give your Valentine can be very hard. So, like many holidays, the days before February 14th can be stressful.
Celebrating Valentine's Day is a great way to show someone special to you that you care, or to do something romantic with someone you love. Although often accompanied by a card, candy, or flowers, Valentine's Day's most important feature is sharing love and friendship between two people.