Say it with love — send a Valentine’s card

The history of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has roots stretching back to ancient Rome, where the mid-February festival of Lupercalia celebrated fertility and the coming of spring. When Christianity spread across Europe the celebration became linked to St Valentine — a third-century Roman priest said to have been martyred for performing secret marriages against the emperor’s orders.

By the Middle Ages, February 14th was firmly associated with romantic love. Geoffrey Chaucer was among the first to write about it as a day for lovers in his 1382 poem Parlement of Foules. Handwritten love notes followed in the 15th century, and by the 1700s printed Valentine’s cards were being exchanged across Britain.

Today Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide — not just between romantic partners but among friends, family members, and anyone you want to remind that they’re appreciated. In Finland it’s called Ystävänpäivä (Friend’s Day), and in Wales lovers exchange hand-carved wooden spoons.

Tips for writing a Valentine’s Day card

A good Valentine’s message doesn’t need to be long or poetic — it just needs to feel real. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Be specific. Instead of a generic “I love you,” mention something particular: a shared joke, a favourite memory, or a quality you genuinely admire.
• Match the tone to your relationship. Playful and funny works just as well as heartfelt and sincere — the best cards sound like the person who wrote them.
• Keep it short if that’s your style. “You make ordinary days feel good” says more than a wall of text you don’t quite mean.
• It’s not just for partners. Send one to a friend, a parent, or a sibling — unexpected cards are often the most meaningful.
• Don’t overthink it. If you’re stuck, start with why this person matters to you and let the words follow.

Related reading

• The best occasions to send an eCard (and what to write)