Editing Valentine's Day (section)

====Iran====
{{Main|Valentine's Day in Iran}}
[[File:Persian_Valentine's_Day_Karaji_(50957801252)_-_Edited.jpg|thumb|Part of a celebration of Valentine's Day in [[Tehran]].]]
The history of Valentine's Day in [[Iran]] dates back to the [[Qajar Iran|Qajar era]] of the latter half of the 19th century. [[Naser al-Din Shah Qajar]] did not take his wife with him during his trip to Europe and he sent her a greeting card from distance on Valentine's Day. This greeting card is available in Iranian museums.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2020 |title=Who brought Valentine to Iran? |url=https://www.imna.ir/news/409141/%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%DA%86%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A2%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF |website=Imna News |language=Fa |access-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809113123/https://www.imna.ir/news/409141/%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%DA%86%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A2%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the mid-2000s, Valentine's Day has become increasingly popular in Iran, especially among young people. However, it has also been the subject of heavy criticism from Iranian conservatives, who see it as part of the spread of "decadent" Western culture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran shops banned from selling Valentine gifts |url=https://www.iranfocus.com/en/iran-general/22507-iran-shops-banned-from-selling-valentine-gifts/ |website=Iran Focus |publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=January 2, 2011 |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916155956/https://www.iranfocus.com/en/iran-general/22507-iran-shops-banned-from-selling-valentine-gifts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2011, authorities have attempted to discourage celebrations and impose restrictions on the sale and production of Valentine's Day-related goods, although the holiday remains popular as of 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iranians celebrate Valentine's Day, despite its being banned |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/iranians-celebrate-valentines-day-despite-its-being-banned/ |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916194702/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/iranians-celebrate-valentines-day-despite-its-being-banned/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, there have been efforts to revive the ancient Persian festival of [[Sepandārmazgān]], which takes place around the same time, to replace Valentine's Day. However, as of 2016, this has also been largely unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fararu.com/fa/news/262279/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86 |title=راه درست برخورد با ولنتاین |access-date=February 19, 2020 |agency=fararunews |date=February 19, 2017 |language=fa |archive-date=February 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216170742/https://fararu.com/fa/news/262279/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86 |url-status=live }}</ref>