Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, a fact recorded in the eighth‑century Gelasian Sacramentary. Over time, folk traditions transformed the day into a significant cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts of the world. By the 14th and 15th centuries, the holiday had become associated with romantic love, partly through the notion of courtly love and the “lovebirds” of early spring. Although February 14 is not a public holiday, it is regarded as an important cultural and religious celebration of romance within the Catholic Church.
In contrast, several Eastern countries do not observe Valentine’s Day, often due to religious beliefs. In Malaysia, where 61 % of the population is Muslim, a 2005 fatwa banned the celebration. In 2011, the Islamic morality police (Jais) arrested 80 Muslim couples and raided hotels in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur as part of an anti‑Valentine’s campaign. Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, is officially secular, but the province of Aceh—governed by Islamic law—prohibits Valentine’s celebrations and the sale of related gifts. Clerics argue that the holiday promotes premarital sex and alcohol consumption, both forbidden by Islamic law, although the holiday remains popular in Jakarta, where businesses seek to profit from it.
Iranian authorities have similarly sought to forbid Valentine’s Day, labeling it a “decadent Western custom” and threatening prosecution for shops and restaurants that sell related gifts. Despite these restrictions, many Tehran restaurants are fully booked on February 14, and vendors sell teddy bears and chocolates, often using lookouts to avoid inspectors. In India, the government’s post‑independence stance rejects Western cultural influence. In 2015, party leader Chandra Prakash Kaushik told The Times of India that love should lead to marriage and should not be flaunted publicly.
Pakistan has experienced violent clashes over Valentine’s Day. In 2014, students at two Peshawar universities fought over the holiday’s compatibility with Islamic law, resulting in rock‑throwing and gunfire that injured three students. On February 7, 2018, the Islamabad High Court banned Valentine’s Day, calling it a Western cultural import “against the teachings of Islam.” In Saudi Arabia, public displays of affection are taboo, and celebrating Valentine’s Day can lead to severe punishment. In 2014, five Saudi citizens received a combined 39 years in prison and 4,500 lashes for dancing with unmarried women on Valentine’s Day. Red roses, love‑themed gifts, and even red clothing are strictly prohibited on that date.
Russia observes a different tradition. While it does not celebrate Valentine’s Day as in the West, March 8 is marked as International Women’s Day, during which flowers, chocolate, and a day off from household chores are given to women—mirroring many Valentine’s customs. This celebration honors women’s contributions and promotes gender equality rather than commemorating a saint.
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