Valentine's Day

Jupiter and Juno by Annibale Carracci.

The association of the middle of February with love and fertility dates to ancient times. In the calendar of Ancient Athens, the period between mid January and mid February was the month of Gamelion, which was dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.

Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day.

Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day is celebrated in some Asian countries with Singaporeans, Chinese and South Koreans spending the most money on Valentine's gifts.

Saint George oil painting by Raphael

Don't wait until it's too late to tell someone how much you love, how much you care.
Because when they're gone, no matter how loud you shout and cry, they won't hear you anymore.

Love isn't a decision, it's a feeling. If we could decide who to love,
Then, life would be much simpler, but then less magical.

Anthropomorphic Valentine, circa 1950-1960

Traditional symbols of Valentine's Day include hearts, doves, Cupid and love notes. American postcard, circa 1900.