1. How is Valentine's Day celebrated?

Valentine's Day gift

 

Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Argentina, Britain, Canada, France, Mexico, South Korea and the United States.

Traditionally on Valentine's Day you show your love for another person by sending cards, gifts and messages of love. Couples give cards or presents to each other, but you can also send something anonymously to someone you secretly love.

Popular gifts include a box of chocolates, dinner for two and flowers, especially roses. Some people make personalised gifts, like a framed photo or a playlist of songs, or they plan a special activity together.

Valentine's Day is also a popular day to either propose or get married. You'd never forget your wedding anniversary!

Now it's your turn

  • Do people celebrate Valentine's Day where you live?
  • Have you ever given or received a romantic gift?

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Average: 4.1 (10 votes)

Submitted by Tangled on Sun, 09/02/2025 - 18:23

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Hi there! In my country, as similar as the others, it's common to celebrate this lovely event. Usually just young people care about that. They prepare special gifts for their lovers, send beautiful cards with some pieces of romantic poems. Giving expensive smart phones ( iPhone, of caurce😄) is a sign for making sure your lover how much love you! I think nowadays people have forgotten the true mean of Valentine's Day and have selfish expectations. I think we should understand the true love, instead of considering financial issues. No matter what day is the Love Day. Eeveryday can be Valentine's Day.

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Submitted by Karlaoliveira_ufg on Sun, 09/02/2025 - 02:06

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Hi, I'm from Brazil. Here, we usually celebrate Valentine's day on June 12th. We exchange gifts just between dating persons and The people usually do a romantic dinner and go out with a girlfriend or husband. It is a nice day in Brazil. Yes,  once I received a special gift from my boyfriend and I loved it, so much. Bye bye see you later!

 

https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/xz9d6qplqqmqrxhw 

Submitted by joyce237 on Fri, 07/02/2025 - 10:44

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hi, i'm from Cameroon, here people celebrate falendine's day, most of them send each order gifts and go on date with their lover one, but for my case i never involte on it, it meant nothing special for me, and i thing it's a lot of misundersatood about love and the way to show it, in this day many youth have their first sex and the concequences are many among with pregnency, i thing in school and house we have to explaint the real meant of love and valentine's day, 

hello there,

I'm from Myanmar. I'd like to leave a comment just because I want to practice my English skills. To be honest, I don't know much about Valentine's Day. Here, in our country, young people usually celebrate Valentine's Day by hanging out, creating special moments, sending gifts such as a bouquet of flowers  or chocolate boxes or their lovers' favorite things. In my point of view, not only is this day special to me but also my husband treats it nicely and fairly on that day, it's Valentine's Day, too. There may be some risks among young people because they don't value what is "real LOVE" and they only celebrate this as popping. They have a date at hotels. Consequently, they get pregnant unwillingly and have to be ashamed. 

 

Submitted by KEVIN7 on Wed, 05/02/2025 - 15:19

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Hello. Here in my country, the majority of the people are accustomed to going out on dates; in other cases, they go to the cinema in order to enjoy an incredible romantic movie, such as 500 Days of Summer, anyone but you and a romantic dairy. Perhaps It's an incredible tradition among us, especially in the West, where we have a different concept of love and romanticism through our movies, our literature, and our perspective about how hard it could be to love and be loved. About my personal experience, I am not a high key of love. I have a lot of reasons for being like this, because in my life I never had an incredible opportunity to love, and at the same time I have never gotten green light to be the boyfriend of any girl. By in large, This Valentine's Day will be another same bored day for me without love, without date, without a romantic sensation wrapping me because I am lonely; I have nobody for myself, and that is terrible. My loneliness is a stalwart part of my life; sometimes I wonder if I will have someone meant to me. But I can't complain because If my life is meant to be like this, I will accept it. 

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I can understand how Valentine’s Day might feel different for everyone. Love and friendships can come in many forms, and sometimes the right person comes along when we least expect it. For now, I hope you find joy in the things that make you happy. ♡


~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team

Hi Shiniest!

❤How lovely to hear your voice ... thank you for leaving us a recording about your thoughts on Valentine's Day. You are lucky, I don't think I've ever received a Valentine's Day gift, well not for a long time.

~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team

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Submitted by Eng. Gamal on Mon, 03/02/2025 - 03:25

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I live in uper Egypt, the most of people here do not celebrate valantiens day.
in respect to me, I think it is always good to show appreciation and affection to your loved one but it does not have a set date in addition to, every day with my partner is a nice day. so, I don't care about valentine's day, but I remember that day I met her & we celebrate it & I care about her birthday & our wedding anniversary. At this occasions sometimes I send her a massage or share post on her page on face book as well as, bring a rose or chocolate to her.

when I was in undergraduate I have given a gift to my lover, then, after graduated I have received a gift.

 

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Submitted by mr.Nzau on Sun, 02/02/2025 - 23:04

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Yes. In Angola, people used to celebrate Valentine's Day. I used to receive and give gifts from and to my wife.

Hi Mr Nzau. 

Thank you for your comment. I bet your wife was really pleased to receive a gift from you. What did you give her? Flowers? Chocolates? And what did she used to give you?

~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team

Hi John,

Thanks for leaving a recording for us! It's so lovely to listen to our learners❣

~ Tinaツ

LearnEnglish team

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Submitted by jquintero8374 on Sun, 02/02/2025 - 15:39

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Hello!!! I from Venezuela, I lived the most of my life in this country and currently I have been living in Chile since 2017. In both countries their cultures celebrate vlantine's day as the previously article commented. The people or couples share time togheter, have a restaurant´s date, send chocalate's boxes, special gifts among others. I  my opinion I like to plan trips with my wife and spend time to celebrate wherever we are. Of course, If we travel we add some details for this ocassion maybe in a restaurante or special place. 

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Submitted by mirhussain123 on Sat, 01/02/2025 - 15:10

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Hey everyone,

Yes, people do celebrate Valentine's Day where I live. It's common to see couples exchanging gifts, going out for dinner, and expressing their love. As for me, I have both given and received romantic gifts on Valentine's Day. It’s always nice to show appreciation and affection for someone special.

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Submitted by Lea.9_4 on Sat, 01/02/2025 - 13:09

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Hi, My name is leanet, in my country celebrated Valentine's day each 14th Febraury. This day each couple give gifts, and sometimes go out to eat. I love Valentine's day because love is in the air.

Submitted by RosaMaria13 on Sat, 01/02/2025 - 11:51

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In Spain, the Day of Love and Friendship is celebrated on February 14th. It is a very commercial day, as large department stores launch advertising campaigns to encourage gift shopping. Restaurants usually offer special dinners with dancing and a more elaborate menu than usual. Hotels also have special offers for the weekend, with packages that include spa sessions, romantic dinners, and dances until midnight.

Although the day is mainly associated with couples, friendship is also important, and many people take the opportunity to celebrate with close friends.

Personally, I like to celebrate it, however, I recognize that it is a very commercial date. That’s why I don’t usually buy material gifts; instead, I prefer to write an emotional letter, create a playlist, or preparing an special dinner.

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Submitted by Yolanda2025 on Sat, 01/02/2025 - 11:36

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Hello, everybody, I am from Madrid (Spain), and, YES, we also celebrate Valentine's day, as long as you have someone to love. How? In Spain is usual to give a present to your lover, or go out to have dinner to a special restaurant or to give a good surprise to your partner, such as to give them a beautiful travel as a present.

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Submitted by guillermot on Sun, 18/02/2024 - 13:41

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Do people celebrate Valentine's Day where you live?
yes, much people celebrate the valentine's day in argentina. me particularly, I don't give it much importance.
It is a date that generates a lot of commercial activity, aroud the world

Have you ever given or received a romantic gift?
yes in any

Yes, on some occasions I have received and given a present for Valentine's Day.

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Submitted by binata13121986 on Mon, 12/02/2024 - 19:41

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Hello everyone!

My name is Natali!
Valentine's day are very popular in my counrty around 10-15 last years.
All the restorants are full of couples this day, there are flowers and balloons everywhere. The atmosphere is very romantic :))

Last 2 years i live in Turkey and here people doesnt have the traditional of celebrating Valentine's day. Thats too much pity for me. Becouse i used to celebrate.

Anyway i celebrate Valentine's day even alone. Becouse its time of magic and romantic :))

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Submitted by Ernike Fatih on Wed, 07/02/2024 - 12:27

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I celeberate valentine's day with my special people, he give me a doll, the name is lotso, the bigger lotso than before, i'm very happy dan love him

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Submitted by Richele on Tue, 06/02/2024 - 21:17

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Hi everyone!
I’m live in Brazil, so celebrate Valentine’s Day at 12 June!
But I don’t like it’s celebrate,because a think the Love is all day ❤️.

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Submitted by glomi on Sun, 04/02/2024 - 01:42

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Hello, I'm Tatiana from Colombia.

In my country we do celebrate Valentine's day but we don't do it the date that the text mention. In fact, we celebrate it on september 17th, however some people like to take on account this two dates for commemoring Valentine's day.

Yes, I have. It was when I was in the 10th grade of highschool. A classmate gave me a blue balloon and a box of chocolates while we were in a little party that our teacher planned for the hole class. After that, he told me that he had some romantic feelings for me and ask me to be his gilfriend.

Hi glomi,

Thanks for sharing your lovely story!

That's interesting about celebrating it on 17 September. Why is it celebrated on this day? I wonder if couples will celebrate twice a year then, on 17 September and also 14 February ...

Jonathan

LearnEnglish team

Submitted by bhattaraikhem on Fri, 02/02/2024 - 07:56

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Hello everyone,

I'm from Nepal. In my country young people celebrate valentine day. We are exchange gift card. When I was studying in Kathmandu, I get gift card from beautiful girl her name start "S". Old people general they are not celebrate valentine but teenage people enjoy this day. On this day they are eat verity food and wine .

Submitted by Mirreee on Wed, 31/01/2024 - 07:49

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in my contry sweden there are many pepole do celerate they buy flowers and chocolate to each other

Submitted by Christy2106 on Tue, 30/01/2024 - 19:45

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In my country, we celebrate valentine's dayon february 14. It is a special and romantic day for me. I get a gift and a card in the shape of heart from my boyfriend. It is so cute. Also I prepare a gift for him. In the center of the city is a lot of lovers and all streets filled with music.

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Submitted by stefherz on Mon, 27/03/2023 - 01:50

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Here in Brazil we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but we have the "Lover's Day" on 12 June, which has actually the same function.
I have never received or given any presents, mainly because me and my partners usually find the date and its traditions very cheesy. I have always been reluctant to adhere to certain traditions, simply for finding it ridiculous to have some higher, impersonal instance telling me how to behave on a certain date. On the other hand I agree with the collegue who argued that these commemorative dates are there to remind us of things we might forget throughout the course of our everyday hussle. Even though, if you give your partner presents or specially attention ONLY on Valentine's Day, it may look more like an obligation than a genuine demonstration of affection.

Hi Stefherz,

I love that you use the word 'cheesy'! My husband would definitely agree with you! He always says to me that it's a complete rip off on these 'special days' especially Valentine's Day and he'd rather go out somewhere special or buy me flowers when it isn't February 14th. I'm still waiting ... 🤦‍♀️ Is there a reason that 'Lover's Day' is on 12th June?

~Tina ッ
LearnEnglish team

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Submitted by Umar Hammad on Tue, 21/03/2023 - 07:16

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i celebrate with my friends and kids i arrange the party a sort of get together with my all friends and famliy members range of good food and cut cake its very colourful

Submitted by khuludaljoufi on Thu, 09/03/2023 - 04:55

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In my country non celebrate Valentin day because in our religious it is haram and I believe this day is silly idea why the couples celebrate in just one day !!! I think when there really love some of them they should celebrate every day nor in one day !

Submitted by Christina Brit… on Tue, 07/03/2023 - 11:51

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Hi. Valentine's day is celebrated in order to express the love on most special one. It's all about spending the day exclusively for him. We set that day aside only for love.Even though we believe that love should be spread and celebrated everyday , we don't always remember to do that. So, on this dedicated day , go above and beyond in expressing love towards him.

Submitted by loanphuong on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 07:47

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I live in Vietnam. And Vietnamese still celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th. We celebrate Valentine’s day in various ways the man will buy flowers or chocolate for the woman. The girl will buy something like a t-shirt, wallet, and belt for her boyfriend. Some couples will ride motorbike all over the city. Others will go to the restaurant to celebrate.

My friend makes a cake by herself to give to her boyfriend. How romantic!

Single people, especially females, will treat themselves like a queen on this day. They can buy everything they want by themselves. Or hang out with others, who are single too in order to celebrate.

I have not given or received a romantic gift before. Because I have not had boyfriends for 27 years old hahaha. Poor me. Maybe next Valentine’s Day, if I still do have not a boyfriend, I will buy flowers by myself. Treat me to a good meal at a luxury restaurant.

Hope next Valentine’s Day you won’t feel lonely and don’t need to buy a flower for you. The one who is for you, will give you a flower and go to have a dinner together in the fancy restaurant :)

Submitted by KARIKE77 on Wed, 01/03/2023 - 19:07

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Hi! I'm from Colombia, and about valentine's day people usually give each other romantic gifts when they're in relationships or something like that and it's celebrated every year.

Submitted by Kathy_Xing on Sun, 26/02/2023 - 01:01

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As the globalization spread worldwide, in China, we celebrate many western festivals nowadays, including Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day. Especially those young generations. In Valentine's Day, we imitate western culture sending roses and chocolate for people we loved. On that day, some people may go to the street and sell roses temporarily. Form my perspective, girls will have more chances receiving presents. Especially, when the relationship is in its infancy, guys want to make their relationship more stable. So girls will only be ready for reciving gifts. However, when they become couples, they will send gifts to each other. I received some gifts on that day, one guy decorated his trunk with rose flowers and lighting. It was the most special one that I could still remember.
We also have our traditional festival for couples, named Qixi Festival. This festival is derived from a traditonal stroy. There was a fairy who fell in love and married to a honest, hard-working young man. But their relationship is unacceptable to the master of the fairy. Therefore, the master seperated them and decided that they could only meet on Qixi Festival, July 7th.
On these two festivals, couples send presents to each other, eat in the restaurant and go to cinemas. So the traffic jam will be worse on those days.

Submitted by HuyenTram on Sat, 25/02/2023 - 04:35

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Hi everyone. I'm from Vietnam.
Valentíne's day is still celebrated in my country. On that day, it's easy to catch many people who sell flower and gifts along streets. There are a lot of vehicles because couple go out to go sightseeing or have a date together. The restaurants and coffee shops are always full at this time.

Submitted by lien_nguyen on Sat, 25/02/2023 - 02:50

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Nowadays, Valentine's Day is popular over the world among Vietnmam where i was born and grow up. I never received the gift or flowers from someone before because in my age almost of people didn't celebrate Valentine's Day like young generation now. But I think that this is beautiful day for people who falling in love with.

Submitted by ahmed sultan on Fri, 24/02/2023 - 15:02

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There is not a day for celebration of the love , we always express our love to those people whom we love anyday at anytime not in special day that remember us these people whom we love

Submitted by luisfelipeldf on Fri, 24/02/2023 - 05:16

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Hello,
Here in Brazil we use to celebrated in 12 of june, they also promote on TV or social midia and sales a lot of type of gifts like roses, dinner or Stay in a nice hotel room (all inclusive).

Submitted by CLAURA NGUYEN on Wed, 22/02/2023 - 09:22

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Hello, I'm Claura from Vietnam. In our country, Valentine's Day is popular too. They have promoted it on the TV, on Banners, and on the stress and once this day is coming, I can see a lot of flowers and the chocolate box is displaying on the pavement. It is also interesting, it is also a day we can make for the family we love, like our parents. Give them dinner, a gift with the message that we love them very much. With me.

Submitted by Syaaaf0212 on Wed, 22/02/2023 - 07:36

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Hello, I live in Indonesia. In Indonesia, Valentine's day is not having a big celebration. Sometimes, in a big mall or restaurant, there is a decoration of Valentine or couple set for those who wants to celebrate it. But in general, as I know, only a few people celebrate Valentine's day.

Submitted by sara rslan on Tue, 21/02/2023 - 21:46

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Hello! It’s sara i’m from Egypt we do celebrate valentine’s day here in Egypt in many ways like sending anonymously gifts , sending chocolates and roses and and have a romantic dinner at luxury restaurant as a date! Also, we love to watch romantic movies on t.v or attend a concert with our be loved.
This year i hang out with my friends to attend a concert because i’m single and I bought myself a lovely gift 😂♥️ That’s how my valentine’s day went

Submitted by ykokunovamail.ru on Tue, 21/02/2023 - 20:31

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Celebration od Valentine's Day was introduced here about 30-25 years back, and became popular with teens and young people most of all as they are always crazy about all new and exotic stuff. And then people gave presents like flowers, chocolate, toys, jewellry, and went on dates and had parties. But now it's become history and they do not take any interest in it.

Submitted by ykokunovamail.ru on Tue, 21/02/2023 - 20:25

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hello! nowadays it's not celebrated where I live.

Submitted by laurita.zaconeta on Tue, 21/02/2023 - 19:06

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In my country Bolivia, Valentine's Day, has recently become popular. However, we traditionally celebrate the day of Love on the 21st of September! Anyway, this year as my boyfriend and I are many kilometres apart, we sent each other personalized e-Cards with very meaningful pictures!

Submitted by irene1964 on Tue, 21/02/2023 - 15:05

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Hi, I am Irene from Argentina. We do celebrate Valentine's Day here. But I feel it is, as Halloween and other celebrations, more or less a marketing move! When I was a child it didn't exist. And now it has become popular to celebrate. Actually I have received many gifts for Valentine's Day.

Tell us more Irene! 😊
What sort of gifts did you get on Valentine's Day? Flowers? Chocolates?
This year I received a single red rose, not from my husband though ... from my eldest son!

~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team