Saint Valentine's Day · Ruz-e Valentin

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

Saint Valentine's Day began as the feast of Valentine, a Roman martyr. The Catholic revision of 1969 left it to local calendars, but Anglicans and Lutherans still keep it. Its link with romantic love goes back to the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, and today couples exchange cards, flowers and gifts. The Islamic Republic suppresses it: in February 2016 the police banned shops from displaying or selling anything linked to the day and warned that young men and women must not gather in shops to exchange gifts; about four years earlier, the Customs Organization had banned imports of Valentine's goods. Iran's own day of love is Sepandarmazgan.