Flowers and restaurant tables both have a way of selling out in the final week. A countdown to 14 February gives you an honest idea of how long you have left to book.
It counts in your own time zone.
How to use the Valentine’s Day Countdown#
- Open the page. The valentine’s day countdown starts as soon as the page loads and follows the clock on your device.
- Pick which one. Stay on the next Valentine’s Day, or look a year further ahead.
- Read the date. Valentine’s Day is on 14 February every year. The weekday is listed under the big number.
Where Valentine’s Day comes from#
Several early saints named Valentine are remembered on 14 February, and the church history around them is tangled. The romantic link is usually traced to the late Middle Ages, when poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer connected the day with courtly love and the pairing of birds.
Handwritten notes became printed cards in the nineteenth century, and the day has been a commercial occasion ever since. Some countries mark it with friends and family as much as couples. In Finland and Estonia it’s a day for friendship, for example.
Getting ahead of the date#
A short list tends to work better than a perfect plan. Book a table at least two weeks ahead if you want a popular place. Order flowers a few days early, since delivery slots fill up. If the day falls on a weekday, many couples celebrate on the weekend before or after, so check the weekday in the result.
Sending a card overseas is the one task with a hard deadline. Allow a week or more for international post.
When is Valentine’s Day in the next few years?#
Valentine’s Day is on 14 February every year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 14 February | Sunday |
| 2028 | 14 February | Monday |
| 2029 | 14 February | Wednesday |
| 2030 | 14 February | Thursday |
| 2031 | 14 February | Friday |
Valentine’s Day around the world#
Not everyone celebrates it as a couples’ day. In Japan, women traditionally give chocolate to men on 14 February, and men return the favour on White Day, 14 March. In South Korea, the 14th of every month has a theme, and 14 February is for couples. In Finland and Estonia, it is the day for friends. In Brazil, Dia dos Namorados falls on 12 June.
In 2027, 14 February falls on a Sunday, so there is no clash with a working day.
A countdown in weeks#
| When | What to do | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks out | Decide on the plan and the budget | Sun 17 January 2027 |
| 2 weeks out | Book the restaurant or trip | Sun 31 January 2027 |
| 1 week out | Order flowers, a gift or a card for delivery | Sun 7 February 2027 |
| 2 days out | Confirm bookings and pick up anything perishable | Fri 12 February 2027 |
The people who run restaurants will tell you that Valentine’s Day tables vanish about two weeks before. If the day falls at a weekend, as it does in 2027, the demand is even higher, so book early or choose another evening.
Ideas that cost little#
- Cook a meal you ate on an early date.
- Write a letter listing ten things you value about the person, one for each year or month you have been together.
- Plan a walk or a drive to somewhere that matters to you both.
- Print a photo from a trip and frame it.
If you want to count how long you have been together, our days between dates calculator works out the exact number of days, weeks and months.
If the day falls on a weekday#
When 14 February is a weekday, restaurants are quieter on the evening itself but fill up on the nearest weekend. Many couples pick a Friday or Saturday as their day. If you work late, plan something that does not need a long journey, such as a home dinner with candles and a playlist. Flowers ordered for a workplace delivery should be booked a week ahead.
Frequently asked questions#
14 February, every year.
No. It’s a widely observed occasion but not an official holiday in most countries.
The weekday is shown in the Date row of the result.
The link between 14 February and romance is usually traced to the late Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote in the 1380s about birds choosing their mates on St Valentine’s Day, and the idea spread through courtly poetry. By the 1800s, printed cards were being sold, and the day has been commercial ever since.
Treat it as an ordinary day or as a chance to look after yourself and your friends. Many people use it to meet friends, cook something good or do something they enjoy. In some countries it is explicitly a day for friendship, so you can send a message to a friend who has been on your mind.
The countdown above shows the exact time left to 14 February in your time zone, in days, hours and minutes. When the day arrives, it shows that it is today. After that, it resets to count to the next one.