Editing Valentine's Day (section)

===Europe===

====Estonia and Finland====
In Finland, Valentine's Day is called {{lang|fi|ystävänpäivä}} ('Friend's Day'). As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering friends, not significant others. In Estonia, Valentine's Day was originally called {{lang|et|valentinipäev}} and later also {{lang|et|sõbrapäev}} ('Friend's Day') as a [[calque]] of the Finnish term.<ref name="s6brap2ev">{{cite web|url=http://www.folklore.ee/Berta/tahtpaev-valentinipaev.php|title=BERTA – Eesti rahvakalendri tähtpäevade andmebaas|work=folklore.ee|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219074035/http://www.folklore.ee/Berta/tahtpaev-valentinipaev.php|archive-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref>

====France====
In France, a traditionally [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "[[Saint Valentine|Saint Valentin]]", and is celebrated in much the same way as other Western countries.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://travelfranceonline.com/valentines-day-saint-valentin-tradition/|title=Traditions in france for valentine's day celebration|date=January 23, 2015|newspaper=Culture x Tourism|language=en-US|access-date=January 25, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202020308/https://travelfranceonline.com/valentines-day-saint-valentin-tradition/|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> The relics of Saint Valentin de Terni, the patron of the St Valentine's Day, are in the Catholic church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Jean-l’Evangéliste, located in the southern France town of [[Roquemaure, Gard]]. The celebrations of {{lang|fr|"Fête des Amoureux"}} takes place every two years on the Sunday closest to February 14. The village gets dressed in its 19th-century costume and put on the program with over 800 people.

====Greece====
Saint Valentine's Day, or {{lang|el|Ημέρα του Αγίου Βαλεντίνου}} in Greek tradition, was not associated with romantic love. In the Eastern Orthodox church there is another saint who protects people who are in love, [[Hyacinth of Caesarea]] (feast day July 3); but this was not widely known until the late 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cretegazette.com/2009-02/agios-yakinthos.php |title=Agios Yakinthos |date=February 1, 2009 |work=Crete Gazette |access-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073555/https://www.cretegazette.com/2009-02/agios-yakinthos.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In contemporary Greece, Valentine's Day is generally celebrated as in the common western tradition.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.grreporter.info/en/young_greeks_celebrate_valentines_day_home/6100 |title=Young Greeks celebrate Valentine's Day at home |date=February 14, 2012 |work=GR Reporter |access-date=February 13, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073614/http://www.grreporter.info/en/young_greeks_celebrate_valentines_day_home/6100 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Ireland====
[[Image:Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church.JPG|thumb|Many Christians make a [[Christian pilgrimage|pilgrimage]] to [[Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church]] in Dublin on Saint Valentine's Day to implore the [[Intercession of saints|intercession]] of Saint Valentine in their [[Christian prayer|prayers]], with the hope of finding true love<ref name="IrishCentral2017"/>]]
On Saint Valentine's Day in Ireland, many individuals who seek true love make a [[Christian pilgrimage]] to the Shrine of St. Valentine in [[Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church]] in Dublin, which is said to house relics of Saint Valentine of Rome; they [[Christian prayer|pray]] at the shrine in hope of finding romance.<ref name="IrishCentral2017">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/travel/love-seekers-show-up-at-st-valentines-resting-place-in-dublin-116076619-237369251|title=Love-seekers show up at St. Valentine's resting place in Dublin|date=February 10, 2017|publisher=IrishCentral|access-date=February 14, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214183306/http://www.irishcentral.com/travel/love-seekers-show-up-at-st-valentines-resting-place-in-dublin-116076619-237369251|archive-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> There lies a book in which foreigners and locals have written their prayer requests for love.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7212675/Irish-priests-keep-a-candle-for-Saint-Valentine.html|title=Irish priests keep a candle for Saint Valentine|last=Hecker|first=Jurgen|date=February 11, 2010|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|language=en|access-date=February 6, 2018|quote=A book in the church is filled with countless wishes addressed to the patron saint of lovers, while a steady stream of locals and visitors alike pray here for help in their amorous quests. "God has someone in mind for me, and I obviously haven't met him yet. So I just hope that Saint Valentine will assist me, that I will find him," said one female visitor. Another added: "We just prayed to find the right one, and I believe I will be led to him when the time is right."|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207011336/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7212675/Irish-priests-keep-a-candle-for-Saint-Valentine.html|archive-date=February 7, 2018}}</ref>

==== Poland ====
Saint Valentine's Day was introduced to Poland together with the cult of Saint Valentine via [[Bavaria]] and [[Tyrol]].<ref name="Chelmo">{{Cite web|title=Patron zakochanych – Chełmno – miasto zakochanych|url=https://chelmno.pl/pl/category/miasto-zakochanych/patron-zakochanych/|access-date=February 14, 2021|language=pl-PL|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214234240/https://chelmno.pl/pl/category/miasto-zakochanych/patron-zakochanych/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, it rose in popularity in the 1990s.<ref name="Chelmo" /> The only public celebration in Poland is held annually from 2002 in [[Chełmno]]<ref name="Chelmo" /> under the name {{lang|pl|"Walentynki Chełmińskie"}} (Chełmno Valentine's). Because Chełmno's parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been holding the [[relic]] of Saint Valentine since the Middle Ages, local cult of the saint has been combined with the Anglo-Saxon tradition.<ref name="Chelmo" />

====Portugal====
In Portugal, the holiday is known as {{lang|pt|"Dia dos Namorados"}} (Lovers' Day / Day of the Enamoured). As elsewhere, couples exchange gifts, but in some regions, women give a {{lang|pt|lenço de namorados}} ("lovers' handkerchief"), which is usually embroidered with love motifs.<ref name="Poelzl2009">{{cite book|last=Poelzl|first=Volker|title=CultureShock! Portugal: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cRqJAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA174|access-date=February 14, 2018|year=2009|publisher=Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd|isbn=9789814435628|page=174}}</ref>

====Romania====
In recent years, Romania has also started celebrating Valentine's Day. This has drawn backlash from several groups, institutions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultura.ro/Documents.aspx?ID=190 |title=Valentine's Day versus Dragobete |access-date=February 14, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627093822/http://www.cultura.ro/Documents.aspx?ID=190 |archive-date=June 27, 2010 }}, cultura.ro {{in lang|ro}}</ref> and nationalist organizations like [[Noua Dreaptă]], who condemn Valentine's Day for being superficial, commercialist, and imported Western [[kitsch]]. In order to counter the perceived denaturation of national culture, [[Dragobete]], a spring festival celebrated in parts of Southern Romania, has been rekindled after having been ignored during the Communist years as the traditional Romanian holiday for lovers. The holiday is named after a character from Romanian folklore who was supposed to be the son of [[Baba Dochia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rolandia.eu/dragobete-celebrating-love-romanian-style/|title=Dragobete 's Day – Celebrating love in the Romanian style|website=Romania Tours|language=en-US|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307021851/http://www.rolandia.eu/dragobete-celebrating-love-romanian-style/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its date used to vary depending on the geographical area, however nowadays it is commonly observed on February 24.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.elenacuza.ro/site/finlanda/dragobeteeng.htm |title=dragobeteeng |last=Cuza |first=Elena |access-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217043014/http://www.elenacuza.ro/site/finlanda/dragobeteeng.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Scandinavia====
In [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]], February 14 is known as {{lang|no|Valentinsdag}}, and is celebrated in much the same manner as in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Skandiblog">{{Cite web |url=http://skandihome.com/skandiblog/inspiration/valentines-day-the-scandinavian-way/ |title=Valentine's Day the Scandinavian way |last=Ripa |first=Ellen |date=February 6, 2017 |website=Skandiblog |language=en-US |publisher=Skandihome |access-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073458/http://skandihome.com/skandiblog/inspiration/valentines-day-the-scandinavian-way/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Sweden]] it is called {{lang|sv|Alla hjärtans dag}} ("All Hearts' Day") but is not widely celebrated. A 2016 survey revealed that fewer than 50% of men and women were planning to buy presents for their partners.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/650924/survey-on-valentine-s-day-celebration-traditions-in-sweden-by-gender/ |title=Sweden: Valentine's Day celebration traditions by gender 2016 |website=Statista |language=en |access-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202710/https://www.statista.com/statistics/650924/survey-on-valentine-s-day-celebration-traditions-in-sweden-by-gender/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The holiday has only been observed since the 1960s.<ref name="Skandiblog"/>

====Spain====
The holiday was first introduced in Spain through a 1948 advertisement campaign by the department store chain [[Galerías Preciados]],<ref name="abc_es" /> and had become widespread by the 1970s.<ref name="abc_es">{{Cite web|date=February 13, 2014|title=Y San Valentín llegó a España de mano de Galerías Preciados|url=https://www.abc.es/historia/20140214/abci-valentin-llego-espana-201401281300.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214101116/https://www.abc.es/historia/20140214/abci-valentin-llego-espana-201401281300.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 14, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2022|website=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]]|language=es}}</ref>

Known as "San Valentín", the holiday is celebrated the same way as in the rest of the West. However, in [[Catalonia]], the celebration is overshadowed by the highly popular [[Saint George's Day in Catalonia|Saint George's Day]] (Catalan: ''Diada de Sant Jordi''), a [[Catalans|Catalan]] tradition established in the late Middle Ages which already serves to the same romantic purpose of Valentine's Day.<ref name="Amades-1952">{{Cite book |last=Amades |first=Joan |title=Costumari Català. El curs de l'any |publisher=Salvat Edicions |year=1952 |edition=2nd |location=Barcelona |pages=285–307 |language=Catalan}}</ref>

====United Kingdom====
[[File:Happy Valentine's Day - geograph.org.uk - 1706688.jpg|thumb|upright|Valentine's Day love notes on display in 2010 for making a charitable donation to the [[British Heart Foundation]]]]
In the UK, just under half of the population spends money on their valentines. Around £1.3&nbsp;billion is spent yearly on cards, flowers, chocolates, and other gifts, with an estimated 25 million cards being sent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Last Valentine's Day I was in a relationship. This year I'm single – and I know I'll enjoy it |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/last-valentines-day-i-was-in-a-relationship-this-year-im-single-and-i-know-ill-enjoy-it-a-hell-of-a-a6867026.html |access-date=June 4, 2020 |newspaper=The Independent |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604182945/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/last-valentines-day-i-was-in-a-relationship-this-year-im-single-and-i-know-ill-enjoy-it-a-hell-of-a-a6867026.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Wales, some people celebrate [[Dydd Santes Dwynwen]] (Saint Dwynwen's Day) on January 25 instead of (or as well as) Valentine's Day. The day commemorates [[Dwynwen|St Dwynwen]], the Welsh patron saint of love.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/st-dwynwen-day-welsh-valentine-8505890|title=7 things you probably didn't know about St Dwynwen's Day|work=Wales Online|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195259/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/st-dwynwen-day-welsh-valentine-8505890|url-status=live}}</ref> The Welsh name for Saint Valentine is Sant Ffolant.

In a 2016 poll conducted by [[Channel 4]] for Valentine's Day, [[Jane Austen]]'s line, "My heart is, and always will be, yours", from her novel ''[[Sense and Sensibility]]'' as said by Edward Ferrars ([[Hugh Grant]]) to Elinor Dashwood ([[Emma Thompson]]) in the acclaimed [[Sense and Sensibility (film)|1995 film adaptation]], was voted the most romantic line from literature, film, and TV by thousands of women.<ref>{{cite news |title=Valentine's Day 2016: Jane Austen tops poll to find most romantic line from literature, film and TV |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/valentines-day-2016-jane-austen-tops-poll-to-find-most-romantic-line-from-literature-film-and-tv-a6863091.html |access-date=June 4, 2020 |newspaper=The Independent |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604192543/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/valentines-day-2016-jane-austen-tops-poll-to-find-most-romantic-line-from-literature-film-and-tv-a6863091.html |url-status=live }}</ref>