Embrace it or not, February 14 is just around the corner. You’ll want to come up with Valentine’s Day activities or plans that bring you joy, no matter your feelings about the holiday or your relationship situation.
Ultimately, Valentine’s Day is intended to honor love—whether that’s for yourself, your family, your friends, your pets, your community…and yes, your romantic partner too. The essence of the holiday is largely dependent on your interpretation. So why not make it enjoyable?
Whether you’re organizing an extravagant dinner with your partner, heading out on a first date, crafting DIY valentines for friends, or enjoying a cozy night in with a heart-shaped pizza, the secret to a memorable Valentine’s Day activity lies in the details and breaking free from your usual routine. Dinner and drinks (or mocktails) may be a classic date-night choice—and a fantastic Valentine’s plan—but don’t hesitate to try something different, even if it’s just exploring a new restaurant or cuisine.
If you’re celebrating alongside a partner this year, remember to carve out some personal time too. It’s true what they say: you can only truly love someone else if you first love yourself. Treat yourself to heart-shaped cookies and a charming Valentine’s bouquet, or consider a staycation if your budget allows. Fortunately, many spas and wellness centers offer couples massage packages and special deals for Valentine’s Day, which can be a wonderful treat for you and your partner or just for yourself. If a complete spa day isn’t feasible, even something as simple as getting a festive manicure can remind you that love is in the air.
See? Valentine’s plans are up to you. Here are some enjoyable activities for Valentine’s Day, whether with friends or a romantic partner, as suggested by Glamour editors.
Send out vintage Valentine’s Day cards.
“I’m excited to send secondhand valentines to my friends for the second year in a row. Why do the designs from the past seem so much more heartfelt and unique? I found a lot of vintage Valentine’s Day cards on eBay from the ’40s and ’50s, and I look forward to sharing them with all my friends.” —Lauren Brown, senior visuals editor
Host a gathering with the girls.
“I adore throwing a little Galentine’s Day party for my closest friends—it’s the perfect reason to get crafty and celebrate friendship! I always look forward to creating, decorating, and making everything feel extra special. My apartment transforms into a pink paradise for the evening (or at least, a bit pinker than usual), filled with candles, ribbons, delightful treats, and fantastic moments with my girls!” —Tascha Berkowitz, assistant fashion editor
Become your own valentine.
“I always strive to treat myself well on Valentine’s Day, regardless of my relationship status. I have a routine where I send myself flowers on Valentine’s Day and write a self-love letter. I typically order the flowers well in advance, so I often forget what I wrote in the letter. But somehow, it always ends up being exactly what I need to hear.” —Jazmin Gathers, social media manager
Visit “our special place.”
“My husband and I have a beloved restaurant that we only visit on Valentine’s Day. It’s been a cherished tradition for many years and something we both eagerly anticipate. I like knowing that ‘our spot’ will provide good food, fine drinks, and a pleasant atmosphere. Additionally, it serves as a fun opportunity to reflect on our relationship, as the conversation naturally shifts to how much we’ve changed and how far we’ve come since our last visit.” —Anna Moeslein, deputy editor
Enjoy dinner and drinks!
“My friends and I have an unofficial tradition of spending Valentine’s Day together, indulging in a fabulous dinner with wine flowing. We appreciate our friendship every day, but it’s nice to set aside this occasion to celebrate it!” —L.B.
Watch a romantic film and order takeout.
“In general, I’m a huge fan of television. But on Valentine’s Day, you’ll find me snuggled up on the couch by myself with a warm blanket watching favorite rom-coms like Bridesmaids or Love and Basketball. However, this year I plan to skip the movie marathon and instead binge-watch the latest season of Love Is Blind with popcorn and a glass of my favorite wine.” —Monique Wilson, editorial assistant
DIY: Create some flower arrangements.
“As Valentine’s Day approaches, I love exploring flower shops for special blooms to create bouquets for my loved ones, sometimes adding a few flowers from Trader Joe’s or the local farmers’ market. My tip for maximizing the beauty of the flowers is to reflex the petals back for a fuller, more striking appearance. To me, a stunning, personally crafted bouquet always feels like the best way to show someone they are valued.” —T.B.
DIY, Part 2: Create cocktails & mocktails.
“Two years ago for Christmas, my family gifted me a cocktail-making kit…and I’ve yet to use it even once. I feel a bit ashamed every time I see it while reaching for a half-finished bottle of wine instead. However, I genuinely want to whip up my own signature drink, both with and without alcohol, and Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect occasion to finally give it a shot. My roommate is a skilled mixologist, and I really enjoy when she prepares beverages for us to savor at home. It’s more affordable and convenient—and I can stay in the living room! Together, I truly believe we can create something delightful for this year! Another option: A cooking class at home could also be a fun way to bond while enjoying something tasty afterward.” —M.W.
Choose the classic movie night.
“Whether it’s with your significant other or a Galentine’s Day gathering, a trip to the movies is a guaranteed way to celebrate V-Day. This year’s films are offering every kind of experience you can imagine. Looking for something steamy? Babygirl will certainly heat things up. Want a good laugh? One of Them Days will be perfect for you and your friends. It’s really a choose-your-own-adventure, accompanied by popcorn, sweets, and soft drinks.” —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor
Consider a book date.
I’m married, but I cherish the idea of a solo date. I will spend Valentine’s evening with my husband, but I also intend to treat myself to a day out over that weekend to enjoy some personal time. If you’re searching for Valentine’s Day activities to do solo, my top recommendation is to find a cozy bar one quiet afternoon with a good book. Conversely, if you’d rather have some company, you can still enjoy this with a partner or friend! Bring along whatever you’re currently reading, then take a moment to chat over drinks and appetizers for a charming winter date idea. —A.M.
Engage in an intense group fitness class.
“I work out regularly, but now and then I crave a particularly strenuous and challenging, yet satisfying, sweat session. My preferred choices are a Pilates class or hot yoga, where I can feel both my muscles unwind and my mind clear. I’ve discovered that exercising with others, whether friends or a date, effectively distracts me from my thoughts.” —M.W.
Craft a playlist of romantic songs.
There’s a lot of unnecessary pressure around Valentine’s Day gifts, so I strongly believe we should return to the fundamentals. Remember how delighted you were to receive candy hearts, a simple hand-crafted card, or a playlist of love songs from someone special? That’s the kind of energy we need! It signifies that you care without needing to splurge on a fragrance they may not use. In fact, consider making a playlist for all your loved ones filled with songs that express just how important they are to you. Your family and friends also deserve to be showered with love. —A.M.
Organize a Valentine’s Day game night.
My preferred date-night ideas typically involve some kind of enjoyable activity, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. There are countless ways to have fun beyond dusting off an old board game. (In reality, there are many adult card games that can add some excitement…) You’re not required to organize an elaborate scavenger hunt that takes your partner to all the significant spots in your relationship—though that’s an option. It’s more about Valentine’s Day experiences that encourage laughter and enjoyment together, whether at a bowling alley, a karaoke venue, or a game night at home. —A.M.
The origins of Valentine’s Day, along with the story of its patron saint, are clouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of love, and that St. Valentine’s Day as we recognize it today carries elements of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he come to be linked with this ancient custom?
The Catholic Church acknowledges at least three distinct saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom faced martyrdom. One tale suggests that Valentine was a priest who served in Rome during the third century. When Emperor Claudius II determined that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he banned marriage for young men. Valentine, seeing the injustice in this decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform secret marriages for young couples. Once his actions were uncovered, Claudius commanded that he be executed. Other accounts claim that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who truly inspired the holiday. He, too, met his end by beheading at the hands of Claudius II outside Rome.
Other accounts indicate that Valentine may have been executed for trying to assist Christians in escaping brutal Roman prisons, where they often faced beatings and torture. One tale suggests that an imprisoned Valentine sent the very first “valentine” greeting after falling in love with a young girl—likely the daughter of his jailer—who came to see him during his imprisonment.
Before his execution, it is said that he composed a letter to her signed “From your Valentine,” a phrase that continues to be used to this day. Although the actual details surrounding the Valentine legends are unclear, the stories highlight his role as a sympathetic, heroic, and—most importantly—romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps due to this reputation, Valentine became one of the most beloved saints in England and France.
Origins of Valentine’s Day: A Pagan Festival in February
While some contend that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in mid-February to mark the date of Valentine’s death or burial—which likely took place around A.D. 270—others argue that the Christian church may have chosen to set St. Valentine’s feast day in mid-February to “Christianize” the pagan festival of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the legendary Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To initiate the festival, members of the Luperci, a group of Roman priests, would convene at a sacred cave where it was believed that the infants Romulus and Remus were nurtured by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. They would then cut the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood, and take to the streets, lightly striking both women and agricultural fields with the goat hide.
Instead of feeling fear, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides, as it was thought to increase their fertility in the upcoming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names into a large urn. The city’s bachelors would draw names and become paired with their chosen woman for the year, with many of these matches resulting in marriage.
Valentine’s Day Meaning: A Day of Romance and Love
Lupercalia endured through the initial rise of Christianity but was banned as it was considered “un-Christian” at the close of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius designated February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day. However, it wasn’t until much later that the day became firmly associated with love.
During the Middle Ages, it was widely believed in France and England that February 14 marked the start of the birds’ mating season, which contributed to the notion that Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance. The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to mention St. Valentine’s Day as a romantic occasion in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Fowls,” writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”
Valentine greetings were popular as early as the Middle Ages, but it wasn’t until after 1400 that written valentines began to appear. The oldest known valentine still in existence today is a poem composed in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, for his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (This greeting is now part of the manuscript collection held by the British Library in London, England.) A few years later, it is thought that King Henry V commissioned a writer named John Lydgate to create a valentine note for Catherine of Valois.
Who Is Cupid?
Cupid is frequently depicted on Valentine’s Day cards as a naked cherub shooting arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. However, the Roman God Cupid originates from Greek mythology, where he is identified as the Greek god of love, Eros. Various accounts of his birth exist; some state he is the offspring of Nyx and Erebus; others say he is the child of Aphrodite and Ares; still others suggest he is the son of Iris and Zephyrus or even Aphrodite and Zeus (who would have been both his father and grandfather).
According to the Greek Archaic poets, Eros was a striking immortal who toyed with the feelings of Gods and humans, wielding golden arrows to inspire love and leaden arrows to provoke aversion. It wasn’t until the Hellenistic period that he began to be represented as the playful, chubby child he is today on Valentine’s Day cards.