Valentine's Day is celebrated each year on February 14th.  It is a day for lovers and friends.   Modern day customs include sending greeting cards known as valentines to sweethearts, family members, and friends. Valentines range from humorous to romantic.  Flowers are the most common gift given, traditionally a dozen red roses, or just one red rose with baby's breath.   Gifts of chocolates in heart shaped boxes,  jewelry, and other gifts are also popular at this time.  People bake or buy heart shaped cookies and cakes.

Many school rooms are decorated with paper hearts, and classrooms often have Valentine parties.  Children play valentine games, and give valentine cards to their friends.  Sometimes the valentines are handmade. All the valentines are put into boxes they have decorated. At the end of the day, the teacher or a child distributes the cards.  Many older students have Valentine's Day dances.

A Valentine's card may be sent anonymously by a secret admirer.  Another  common practice is to put a personal Valentine's day message in the newspaper. On Valentine's Day in a leap year, women can ask men to marry them!

Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries, but it is most popular in the United States and Great Britain. 

British children receive gifts of candy, fruit or money, and sing special Valentine's Day songs.  In some parts of England, valentine buns baked with caraway seeds, raisins, or plums are popular.

In Denmark, people send pressed white flowers called snowdrops to their friends.  The men also send valentines called a gaekkebrev, which means a joking or fun letter.  Instead of signing his name, the sender uses dots for each letter in his name.   In Great Britain, some people also send valentines signed with dots.