![Valentine's Day](/sites/teens/files/styles/max_325x325/public/field/image/rs7763_thinkstockphotos-504075546-low.jpg?itok=jjw42etv)
Instructions
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Valentine's Day is a traditional celebration of romantic love. It's celebrated on 14 February in many places. Here's how people celebrate it!
Cards
Sending a Valentine's card to someone you love is a custom that started more than a century ago. Couples give cards to each other, but you can also send an anonymous card to anyone you secretly love. Symbols on Valentine's cards include hearts, doves and the winged figure Cupid holding a bow and arrow.
Poems
Inside the cards, people normally write a message to show their feelings. One way to do this is by writing a poem in the card. Probably the most famous lines from a Valentine's Day poem are:
Roses are red, violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet, and so are you.
Gifts
As well as cards, 14 February is a day for giving gifts. Popular gifts include red roses, a box of chocolates, a teddy bear and a photo frame. More expensive ones include a meal in a nice restaurant, perfume, jewellery or a session at a health club.
However, some people complain that Valentine's Day has become too commercial. Actually, anything that your partner likes can be a great gift, and it does not need to be expensive. It can even be free! Some people make a video out of all their photos, add some nice music and then send it to their loved one on the day. You can also make a playlist of songs that you both like, and share it with them. Perhaps even more meaningfully, you can simply spend time with your loved one on Valentine's Day and give them your time and attention.
Valentine's Day is also a popular day to either propose or get married. You'd never forget your wedding anniversary!
Not for everyone?
Not everyone likes Valentine's Day. It can be a difficult time for people who are single, lonely or missing somebody. Some people feel they show their love for their partner every day, so they don't need to buy things just because it's Valentine's Day. Other people, single or not, think Valentine's Day is boring and unoriginal.
Many people just take 14 February as a normal day or do something special to celebrate the love they have for their friends and family. There are even anti-Valentine's events for people who are not in a romantic mood! Having competitions to make the worst Valentine's Day card, inviting people to a 'broken-hearted disco' or organising fancy-dress dating events are just a few fun ideas.
Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? If not, is there a similar day in your country?
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