In parts of Africa, especially Egypt, January marks the beginning of the annual celebration of Valentine’s Day, where the media begins its yearly coverage known as the “Feast of Love”. Announcements of new concerts, films, and songs set the stage, leading up to February 14, when discussions shift to the business boom for florists and gift vendors, debates on the holiday’s relevance, and public opinions from the streets of Cairo according to ʿīd al-ḥubb. In Ghana, the celebration is not exceptional in February; people born between 1997 and 2012 have different reasons for the celebration.
“We show love every day, but on this day, we go to the extreme, whether through gifts, dates, or simply doing something we’ve never done before to show love,” said Kelvin Owusu, a level 300 student.
For many, Valentine’s Day is a special time to express love and appreciation. Mr. Owusu sees it as a day to go beyond everyday gestures of affection; however, he doesn’t consider gifts a necessity. “If my partner doesn’t give me anything, I won’t have a problem with it; there could be financial reasons,” he added.
Fiona, also a level 300 student, holds a different perspective. For her, Valentine’s Day is all about love, togetherness, and exchanging gifts. “I expect a gift; if I don’t get one, we’re breaking up. We’ve dated for so long, so I need to get a gift. I deserve one!”
Additionally, Emefa, a level 400 student, views the day more reflectively. “To me, it’s a day of love and appreciation; it’s deep,” she says. While she believes love should be expressed daily, she wouldn’t mind receiving a gift. “My expectations aren’t high, but if I do receive one, that would be nice.”
Also. Lucy Laryea, a single woman, views Valentine’s Day as a celebration that can also help revive struggling relationships or bring loved ones closer. “Love and relationships are integral parts of human life, and we cannot separate ourselves from them,” she stated.
While many celebrate the day with enthusiasm, Lucy shares a different perspective just like Fiona. “I have never received a Valentine’s gift, nor do I recall celebrating it with anyone. I’ve gotten used to it, whether I receive a gift or not. Sometimes, I even forget about Valentine’s Day until I hear people talking about it. My partner and I never really discuss it, so there are no expectations.” She reiterated
Valentine’s Day holds different meanings for everyone—whether it’s about grand gestures, meaningful connections, or simply appreciating the love that exists every day.
What is even Valentine’s Day?
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, and through later folk traditions, it has also become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
There are several martyrdom stories associated with various Saint Valentines connected to February 14, including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor; an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution.
The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the “lovebirds” of early spring. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings. In Italy, Saint Valentine’s keys are given to lovers “as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart” and children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine’s Malady).
It is a day of commemoration in the Anglican Communio and the Lutheran Church. Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day on July 6 in honor of Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and on July 30 in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).
