2027 Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day on February 14 honors St. Valentine, a third-century Roman martyr, and has become the world's day for romance; the link between the saint's feast and courtly love dates back to the Middle Ages, and mass-produced greeting cards made the holiday a commercial fixture in the 19th century. Couples exchange cards, roses and chocolates and book dinner tables weeks in advance, while schoolchildren swap valentines with classmates. Traditions vary: in South Korea and Japan women give chocolate to men, who reciprocate on White Day a month later, and Korea adds Black Day on April 14, when singles eat black-bean noodles; in Brazil the equivalent Dia dos Namorados falls on June 12. It is not a public holiday anywhere, so the celebration fits around a normal working day. Florists and restaurants are at their busiest of the year, so order flowers and reserve tables early. This countdown ticks to midnight on February 14 in the time zone of the country you are viewing.