"Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, originated as a Christian feast day for Saint Valentine. Over time, it evolved into a cultural phenomenon celebrating romance and love, marked by traditions and commercial activity."
1904: First Mass-Produced Valentines
In 1904, Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was inspired by an English Valentine, produced and sold the first mass-produced Valentines of embossed paper lace in the United States.
1936: Valentine's Day Introduced to Japan
Morozoff Ltd. first introduced Valentine's Day to Japan in 1936 through an advertisement targeting foreigners.
1948: Valentine's Day Introduced to Spain
Galerías Preciados, a department store chain, introduced Valentine's Day to Spain through an advertisement campaign in 1948.
1953: Giving of Chocolates Promoted
In 1953, Morozoff Ltd. began promoting the tradition of giving heart-shaped chocolates for Valentine's Day in Japan, which other confectionery companies later adopted.
1958: Valentine's Day Sales Begin
The Isetan department store in Japan held a "Valentine sale" in 1958, further popularizing the holiday.
1992: Valentine's Day in India
In 1992, Valentine's Day celebrations began to take hold in India, influenced by commercial TV channels, dedicated radio programs, and love letter competitions, along with economic liberalization that boosted the valentine card industry.
1993: First Celebration in Bangladesh
In 1993, Valentine's Day was first celebrated in Bangladesh by Shafik Rehman, a journalist and editor who introduced the holiday to the Bangladeshi people through his newspaper Jaijaidin.
1995: "Sense and Sensibility" Film Adaptation
The acclaimed 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" features the line "My heart is, and always will be, yours," spoken by Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) to Elinor Dashwood (Emma Thompson).
1996: Victorian Valentines
In 1996, the Laura Seddon Greeting Card Collection at Manchester Metropolitan University gathered 450 Valentine's Day cards dating from early 19th century Britain. The collection was featured in Seddon's book Victorian Valentines.
2001: Esther Howland Award
Since 2001, the Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual "Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary" to honor contributions in the greeting card industry.
2002: Ban on Valentine's Day Items
Religious police in Saudi Arabia banned the sale of Valentine's Day items in 2002, deeming the holiday Christian and leading to a black market for related goods.
2005: Fatwa Against Valentine's Day
In 2005, top clerics in Malaysia issued a fatwa stating that Valentine's Day is associated with Christianity and therefore unsuitable for Muslims.
2008: Reinforcement of the Ban
Saudi religious police reinforced the ban on Valentine's Day items in 2008, ordering shops to remove red items associated with the holiday.
2009: Ban on Valentine's Day Practices
Iran banned practices associated with Valentine's Day, such as giving gifts suggestive of the holiday, in 2009, with law enforcement prosecuting distributors of related goods.
2010: Valentine's Day Expenditures
In 2010, the average expenditure per person for Valentine's Day in the United States was $108, marking a significant increase by 2017.
February 14, 2011: "Mind the Valentine's Day Trap" Campaign
On February 14, 2011, Malaysian Islamic authorities launched a campaign called "Awas Jerat Valentine's Day" ("Mind the Valentine's Day Trap") to discourage Muslims from celebrating, including raids and distributing warning leaflets.
2011: Arrests for Valentine's Day Celebrations
In 2011, over 100 Muslim couples in West Malaysia were arrested for celebrating Valentine's Day, facing potential charges in the Shariah Court.
2011: Iranian Crackdown on Valentine's Day
Since 2011, Iranian authorities have attempted to discourage Valentine's Day celebrations, seeing them as promoting Western culture. This includes restrictions on Valentine's Day-related goods. Despite this, the holiday remained popular.
February 2012: Opposition to Valentine's Day in India
In February 2012, Subash Chouhan of the Bajrang Dal warned couples against public displays of affection on Valentine's Day, stating that activists would "beat them up" for kissing or hugging in public places.
2012: Arrests and Confiscation of Roses
In 2012, Saudi religious police arrested over 140 Muslims for celebrating Valentine's Day, confiscating red roses from flower shops.
2015: Valentine's Day Spending in the UK
In 2015, it was noted that just under half of the UK population spent money on Valentine's Day, with around £1.9 billion spent on cards, flowers, chocolates, and other gifts.
2016: Valentine's Day in Scandinavia
A 2016 survey revealed that less than 50% of Swedes planned to buy gifts for their partners on Valentine's Day, a holiday only observed there since the 1960s.
2016: Revitalizing Sepandārmazgān
By 2016, attempts to replace Valentine's Day with the ancient Persian festival of Sepandārmazgān had largely been unsuccessful in Iran.
2016: Most Romantic Line
In 2016, a Channel 4 poll declared the line "My heart is, and always will be, yours" from Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" as the most romantic line from literature, film, and TV, based on votes from thousands of women.
2016: Novena Prayer
In 2016, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales established a novena prayer to support single people seeking a spouse ahead of St Valentine's Day.
2016: Valentine's Day Banned in Peshwar
The local government of Peshwar, Pakistan officially banned Valentine's Day celebrations in 2016. This ban was also implemented in other cities like Kohat.
2017: Valentine's Day Banned in Public Places
The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan banned Valentine's Day celebrations in public places in 2017, a decision supported by a majority of Dawn readers polled online.
2017: Relaxation of Restrictions
Following a widely circulated fatwa, Saudi religious police did not prevent Muslims from celebrating Valentine's Day in 2017.
2017: Valentine's Day Expenditures
In 2017, Valentine's Day expenditures in the United States topped $18.2 billion, averaging over $136 per person, an increase from $108 per person in 2010.
2017: Cow Hug Day
In 2017, Indian authorities attempted to rebrand Valentine's Day as "Cow Hug Day." This move, intended to promote the importance of cows, was widely mocked and ultimately retracted after facing backlash and humorous responses online.
2018: Valentine's Day Endures in Iran
As of 2018, despite ongoing criticism and restrictions from conservatives, Valentine's Day continued to be popular, especially among young people in Iran.
2018: Survey on Valentine's Day in India
In 2018, an online survey revealed that 68% of respondents in India did not wish to celebrate Valentine's Day. Various religious groups, including Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities, do not support the holiday.
2018: Media Coverage of Valentine's Day Discouraged
In response to a citizen's petition, Pakistan's Electronic Media Regulatory Authority advised against airing Valentine's Day celebrations in 2018.
2018: Valentine's Day Deemed Compatible with Islam
Sheikh Ahmed Qasim Al-Ghamdi, a prominent Saudi cleric, stated in 2018 that Valentine's Day is not forbidden (haram) and aligns with Islamic values.
2019: Decline in Valentine's Day Celebration
In 2019, a survey by the National Retail Federation found a steady decline in the percentage of people celebrating Valentine's Day over the previous decade. The main reasons cited were over-commercialization, not having a significant other, and lack of interest in celebrating.
2021: Prosecution for Anti-Cultural Symbols
In 2021, the Prosecutor's Office of Qom, Iran announced it would prosecute those spreading anti-cultural symbols, including those related to Valentine's Day.
February 2023: Cow Hug Day
In February 2023, the Animal Welfare Board of India appealed to Indians to celebrate February 14 as "Cow Hug Day" to promote emotional richness and increase individual and collective happiness, emphasizing the sacredness of cows in Indian culture.