Valentine's Week 2027

About Valentine's Week

Most of the world marks only February 14. In India, the days before it have grown into a sequence of their own: Rose Day on February 7, Propose Day on February 8, Chocolate Day on February 9, Teddy Day on February 10, Promise Day on February 11, Hug Day on February 12, Kiss Day on February 13 and Valentine's Day on February 14. Indian newspapers publish the calendar each year, and couples use the days for small gifts, messages and outings.

No person, company or organization is documented as having created Valentine's Week, and it has no official status. When the themed days first appeared is not recorded, but they sit on top of Valentine's Day's own growth in India. A 2002 BBC report traced that to the decade after economic liberalization in the early 1990s, when satellite television, card shops and a growing urban middle class made the occasion popular. In 2024 The Straits Times reported young Indians spending record amounts on roses, chocolates and gift hampers across the week, with one online gift platform reporting record rose deliveries.

The week is not universally welcomed. Valentine's celebrations in India have drawn protests from some conservative religious and political groups, who view them as a Western import, and some critics regard the whole occasion as commercially driven. Others simply mark the week quietly or not at all. Hug Day on February 12 should not be confused with National Hugging Day in the United States, which falls on January 21 and has a separate, documented origin.

Sources: Hindustan Times: Valentine's Week 2026 full list, The Straits Times: Young Indians spend millions buying gifts for 'Valentine's Week' (2024), archived, BBC News: India's fascination with Valentine's Day (2002). How we check dates.

How to mark Valentine's Week

• Pick one or two days of the week that suit your relationship rather than trying to mark all eight.
• Write a short note each day instead of buying a gift, and give them all to your partner on February 14.
• Plan a low-cost outing, such as a walk, a picnic or cooking a favorite meal together.
• Use Promise Day to agree on one practical promise, such as a regular date night or sharing a chore.
• If you're single, use the week to thank friends and family who matter to you.

Valentine's Week dates