The dates stay consistent across popular usage and retail calendars. However, each day is significant - and important - in its own ways leading up to Valentine's Day.
Valentine Week calendar at a glance
Rose Day - February 7
Often seen as the starting point. Roses are exchanged as a sign of affection or appreciation. Different colours carry different meanings in popular culture.
Propose Day - February 8
Associated with direct expressions of feeling. Some treat it as a moment for first confessions; others use it to renew a commitment.
Chocolate Day - February 9
Sweets are the focus. Chocolate is seen as a token of care. It is one of the most visible days of the week.
Teddy Day - February 10
Soft toys, especially teddy bears, are given as symbols of comfort and companionship.
Promise Day - February 11
Centres on pledges within relationships. The idea is continuity - what comes after the celebration.
Hug Day - February 12
The day highlights physical reassurance. The theme is emotional warmth rather than gifts.
Kiss Day - February 13
It's linked to affection and closeness. The observance itself is modern, though kissing as a gesture has deep historical roots.
Valentine’s Day - February 14
The main day. Named after Saint Valentine in Christian tradition. Over time, it evolved into a broader celebration of romantic connection.
Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day?
According to Britannica, Valentine’s Day is connected to Lupercalia, a Roman festival held in mid-February. By the late fifth century, Pope Gelasius I is said to have replaced that festival with St. Valentine’s observance. The modern “Valentine Week” structure developed much later, shaped largely by media and retail traditions.
What Valentine's Day means today
For many, the week is about planned gestures. For others, it’s just symbolic. Either way, the calendar provides a sequence that people follow each year, leading to February 14.
