In Portugal, the holiday is known as "Dia dos Namorados" (Lover's Day / Day of the Enamoured). As elsewhere, couples exchange gifts, but in some regions, women give a lenço de namorados ("lovers' handkerchief"), which is usually embroidered with love motifs. [179] Romania a b Levine, Deborah A. (2012). Love Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Many Ways We Celebrate Romance and Passion. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp.17–18. ISBN 9781616083861 . Retrieved February 13, 2018. 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. [135] 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. [136] 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, although, as of 2016, this has also been largely unsuccessful. [137] Israel a b George Monger (2004). Marriage customs of the world: from henna to honeymoons (illustrateded.). ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-57607-987-4. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Saudi cleric Sheikh Muhammad Al-'Arifi said on Valentine's Day Eve that celebrating this holiday constitutes bid'a – a forbidden innovation and deviation from religious law and custom – and mimicry of the West." [166] [167]

While the European folk traditions connected with Saint Valentine and St. Valentine's Day have become marginalized by modern customs connecting the day with romantic love, there are still some connections with the advent of spring.In Japan, Morozoff Ltd. introduced the holiday for the first time in 1936, when it ran an advertisement aimed at foreigners. Later, in 1953, it began promoting the giving of heart-shaped chocolates; other Japanese confectionery companies followed suit thereafter. In 1958, the Isetan department store ran a "Valentine sale". Further campaigns during the 1960s popularized the custom. [139] [140] a b Ripa, Ellen (February 6, 2017). "Valentine's Day the Scandinavian way". Skandiblog. Skandihome. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018 . Retrieved February 13, 2018. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, St. Valentine is recognized on July 6, in which Saint Valentine, the Roman presbyter, is honoured; in addition, the Eastern Orthodox Church observes the feast of Hieromartyr Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, on July 30. [27] [28] [29] Legends St Valentine baptizing St Lucilla, Jacopo Bassano. a b Meg Sullivan (February 1, 2001). "Henry Ansgar Kelly, Valentine's Day". UCLA Spotlight. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017.

Chaucer's Parliament of Fowls refers to a supposedly established tradition, but there is no record of such a tradition before Chaucer. The speculative derivation of sentimental customs from the distant past began with 18th-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. Most notably, "the idea that Valentine's Day customs perpetuated those of the Roman Lupercalia has been accepted uncritically and repeated, in various forms, up to the present". [23] [60] Alexander Sanchez C. (February 12, 2010). "El cine transpiraamores y desamores". La Nación. La Nación (San José). Archived from the original on February 15, 2010 . Retrieved February 14, 2012. In Japan, the romantic "date night" associated with Valentine's Day is celebrated on Christmas Eve. [144] Lebanon Valentine's Day themed bouquet of cupcakes

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The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is believed to be in the Parliament of Fowls (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer, a dream vision portraying a parliament for birds to choose their mates. [31] Honouring the first anniversary of the engagement of fifteen-year-old King Richard II of England to fifteen-year-old Anne of Bohemia, [54] Chaucer wrote (in Middle English): AFP (February 15, 2018). "Saudi cleric endorses Valentine's Day as 'positive event' ". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022 . Retrieved January 15, 2022.

Ron Huza (February 14, 2007). "Lost in translation: The cultural divide over Valentine's Day". The Gazette. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. The concept of Valentine's Day was introduced into Pakistan during the late 1990s with special TV and radio programs. The Jamaat-e-Islami political party has called for the banning of Valentine's Day celebration. [126] Despite this, the celebration is becoming popular among urban youth and the florists expect to sell a great number of flowers, especially red roses. The case is the same with card publishers. [153] In the Philippines, Valentine's Day is called Araw ng mga Puso in much the same manner as in the West. It is usually marked by a steep increase in the price of flowers, particularly red roses. [158] It is the most popular day for weddings, [159] with some localities offering mass ceremonies for no charge. [160] Saudi Arabia a b c Steve Derné (2008). "7. Globalizing gender culture. Transnational cultural flows and the intensification of male dominance in India". In Kathy E. Ferguson; Monique Mironesco (eds.). Gender and globalization in Asia and the Pacific: method, practice, theory. University of Hawaii Press. pp.127–129. ISBN 978-0-8248-3241-4. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015.

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J.C. Cooper, in The Dictionary of Christianity, writes that Saint Valentine was "a priest of Rome who was imprisoned for succouring persecuted Christians." [30] Contemporary records of Saint Valentine were most probably destroyed during this Diocletianic Persecution in the early 4th century. [31] In the 5th or 6th century, a work called Passio Marii et Marthae published a story of martyrdom for Saint Valentine of Rome, perhaps by borrowing tortures that happened to other saints, as was usual in the literature of that period. [31] [32] The holiday was first introduced in Spain through a 1948 advertisement campaign by the department store chain Galerías Preciados, [185] and had become widespread by the 1970s. [185] Guinness World Records 2017. Guinness World Records. September 8, 2016. p.90. ISBN 9781910561348. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023 . Retrieved September 20, 2021. Richard Cadbury, eldest son of John Cadbury who founded the now iconic brand, was the first chocolate-maker to commercialize the association between confectionery and romance, producing a heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in 1868 However, in 2017 and 2018, after a fatwa was widely circulated, the religious police did not prevent Muslims from celebrating the day. [168] In 2018, Sheikh Ahmed Qasim Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi cleric and former president of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said that Valentine's Day is not haram and is compatible with Islamic values. [169] [170] Singapore Take heart, Valentine's every other week". Independent Online. February 9, 2001. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009 . Retrieved February 14, 2012. Kelly gives the saint's day of the Genoese Valentine as May 3 and also claims that Richard's engagement was announced on this day.