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Valentine’s Day in France traditions & How the french celebrate them

Updated 10 February 2025 by Leyla Alyanak — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion

Do we celebrate Valentine's Day in France? Yes, we do, but our traditions may be a little different. Here's a rundown on how the French deal with this romantic day, so you can join in and celebrate with us. 

As is the case in much of the rest of the world, the French celebrate Valentine's Day on 14 February.

But there are degrees of celebration.

My family, for example, never celebrated this feast day, which I only discovered when I attended an American school for the first time.

Here are some of those similarities and differences, along with a few peculiarities of Valentine's Day in France.

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How France celebrates Valentine's Day

France Valentine's Day traditions

Romantic things to do in the City of Love

The origins of La Saint Valentin in France

Does France celebrate Valentine's Day?

Around the world, people look forward to the 14th of February, a day exclusively devoted to love.

You get to give and receive gifts and welcome signs of affection from people you love.

Most people think that because France is one of the most romantic countries in the world, Valentine’s Day is a big deal here.

It is. And it isn't.

One survey says 71% of people celebrate Valentine's Day in France, especially among younger French couples. That's a large number, but it falls short of the red-heart tsunami experienced in some countries... Another survey says more than 60% believe it's a commercial holiday and only a third plan to celebrate.

The French are very individualistic people, and those who do celebrate may do it a bit differently.

Here's what you can expect around this date.

Valentine's day cake

How does France celebrate Valentine's Day?

Unlike in many parts of the world, Valentine’s Day in France is mostly for adults, and for people who are in love. So you will not find pre-schoolers, best friends, or even family members giving each other handmade cards and gifts.

In fact, you could easily give someone you are not in love with the wrong impression... 

Rather than giving out cards, the French prefer to spend time with their significant other in person, enjoying an activity and sharing gifts.

If you're looking for a romantic gesture to celebrate Valentine's Day in France, here are a few ideas for celebrating this special occasion, the "day of love"...

  • give special flowers or chocolates
  • book a romantic weekend away
  • enjoy one of the many Valentine's Day specials in a romantic restaurant
  • buy a love-themed pastry at your local patisserie (yes, this is becoming a "thing")
  • share a couples spa treatment
  • enjoy romantic dinners at home by candlelight
  • reserve a romantic cruise on the Seine (or other river near you)
  • take in a "love-themed" exhibition at a museum (this is France – you shouldn't have too much trouble finding one!)
  • take a class together, cooking perhaps?
  • attend a special wine tasting...

Frankly, the list is infinite. It can be a simple as walking together in a park or booking a helicopter ride or balloon trip over one of France's iconic landmarks!

A VERY FRENCH GIFT FOR YOUR VALENTINE

French address bowls

This is a classic French breakfast bowl, and most of us have had one since childhood, used to drink hot chocolate or, later in life, coffee or tea. They often have our names on them and these, with hearts rather than names, are a perfect Valentine's Day gift. ORDER YOURS HERE.

French Valentine's Day traditions, events and festivals

Although French Valentine's Day is not what visitors might expect, there are some traditions that most people look forward to each year.

Saint-Valentin Festival

Located just 257 km (160 miles) outside of the City of Love, Paris, there is a quaint and beautiful little village known as Saint-Valentin. As you may have guessed, it takes its name from Saint Valentine himself.

Known as “Le Village Des Amoureux” (Lovers' Village), it’s the one place where you’ll find loads of dreamy-eyed travelers from all over the country celebrating Valentine’s Day. Each year the village hosts a three-day festival of love held over the weekend closest to Valentine’s Day.

The village dresses up with hearts and flowers, mainly red roses, and chocolate makers arrive show off their delectable heart-shaped creations.

It’s not hard to find the perfect gift for your significant other at the Saint-Valentin festival. 

Over the three days, there are plenty of weddings, proposals, and vow renewals in Saint-Valentin, a special thing to watch as couples declare their profound love for each other.

This all happens in the Lover’s Garden, with its perfectly manicured lawns,  wooden bridge, Tree of Vows, and a sculpture shaped like dripping hearts. Most trees in the garden have been planted by couples who visited during the festival to show off their love.

Visitors who are a bit more old school will line up at the local post office waiting to have their love letters stamped. After receiving the stamp of approval, they place their love letters in Cupid’s Mailbox and wait for them to be sent off to their special person.

Couples who have been married for seven years and longer qualify for a truly unique privilege in Saint-Valentin during this time. It’s called the “Confirmation of Marriage.” This is a special ceremony performed by the village mayor in front of the town hall.

Many people gather to watch as the mayor presents couples with a personalized certificate confirming their marriage. After which, couples can have their names engraved onto a metallic heart which they can keep or attach on the Tree of Vows in the Garden of Love.

GET YOUR FRENCH VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS HERE!

Romantic things to do in Paris, the City of Love

Since Paris is known as the City of Love, there is no shortage of romantic things to do around Valentine’s Day. Here are some activities you can look forward to on "La Saint Valentin" in Paris.

Visit the Le Mur des Je t’aime in Paris

You may have seen it in Montmartre on the way to the Abesses metro station... It's called Le Mur des Je t’aime or the “I Love You Wall”, created in 2000 by artist Claire Kito and calligraphist Frederic Baron.

Le Mur des Je T'aime in Paris - the "I Love Yous" wall in Paris, a perfect place to celebrate Valentine's Day in FranceThe wall is over 40 square meters, featuring 311 “I love you” notes in 250 languages

While not a very old tradition, plenty of Parisians and sightseers visit the wall on Valentine’s Day. Here they declare their love for one another and take pictures with the wall as a backdrop.

Enjoy a chocolate tasting

For anyone with a sweet tooth, chocolate tasting is always a good idea. What better way to spend Valentine’s Day with the person you love than by indulging in some delicious confectionery?

A chocolate and croissant tour will give you the opportunity to learn about France’s chocolate making history and also sample some of the best cocoa treats you’ll find in the city.

ROMANTIC BOOKS TO READ ON VALENTINE'S DAY

➽ Every Frenchman Has One by Olivia de Havilland (It's not what you think.)
➽ Paris: A Love Story by Kati Marton: "Honest and human."
➽ Paris Reflections by Jeffrey Anderson: Walks through African-American Paris.
➽ The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Éxupéry. "Meditations on love and friendship."

Take a food and wine tour

Not into chocolate?

French cuisine has long been the blueprint of the gastronomic world. So naturally, one of the best ways to try out France’s most popular dishes is to treat yourself and your partner to a food tour. You’ll get to sample the best dishes, cheeses, cured meats, breads, wine and so much more.

Take a Seine River dinner cruise

Nothing screams ‘romance in Paris’ more than a cruise down the idyllic Seine River. While a river cruise is pretty spectacular during the day, it’s even more special during golden hour.

A dinner cruise makes an already romantic occasion even more special. As you sail past some of Paris’ iconic landmarks and take in some wonderful views of the city, you can feast on a classic French 3-course dinner.

Visit Disneyland

Fireworks at Disneyland in Paris

A fun way to enjoy Valentine’s Day is to tap into your inner child with a visit to Disneyland Paris. Think thrilling rides, spending time with beloved childhood characters, and shopping at various Disney-themed stores. If you stay until the evening, you can even catch the exciting firework display.

Organize a couples photoshoot

Sure, you could take some great photos on your smartphone, but visiting France is usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So why not capture your best memories with a family or couples photoshoot around the best locations in Paris on the traditional French love day?

Some of the most popular locations in the city include the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower and the banks of the Seine River, which all make gorgeous backdrops.

Visit the Musée de La Vie Romantique

The Museum of Romantic Life in Paris

There is no shortage of museums in Paris to visit, but a particularly appropriate one is the Museum of Romantic Life (Musée de La Vie Romantique), which will take you back to the Romantic era of the early- to mid-1800s.

A FEW MORE OPTIONS FOR ROMANTIC THINGS TO DO IN PARIS
Here's a selection of the city of love's most romantic activities!

The origins of La Saint Valentin in France

As is the case elsewhere, plenty of French people see St Valentine's Day as a commercial event, one designed to part them from their money with the temptation of flowers or chocolate.

It is indeed a good time for business, but the holiday remains less commercial than, say, in the United States.

So when did it all begin? What is the root of Valentine's day?

Its origins are shrouded in mystery.

St. Valentine's pagan origins

Before its association with Saint Valentine, mid-February was marked by the Roman festival of Lupercalia, celebrated from 13-15 February.

  • Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and to the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.
  • Priests (Luperci) sacrificed a goat and a dog at the Lupercal cave on the Palatine Hill. They then ran through the streets slapping women with strips of goat hide, an act believed to increase fertility.
  • The festival included a matchmaking lottery, where men and women were paired for the duration of the celebration.

This raucous, sensual holiday had no connection to romantic love, but its date and themes of fertility made it a target for Christian rebranding.

The Christianization of Valentine’s Day: Who was Saint Valentine?

By the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I abolished Lupercalia and replaced it with Saint Valentine’s feast day on February 14.

However, the identity of Saint Valentine is unclear – there are at least three different early Christian martyrs by that name.

  • The most famous, Saint Valentine of Rome (died c. 269 CE), became the central figure in later legends.
  • According to another legend, Emperor Claudius II (r. 268–270 CE) supposedly banned young men from marrying, believing that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. Saint Valentine, a Christian priest, defied the emperor by secretly performing marriages for young couples. Valentine was arrested and tried to convert the emperor to Christianity, leading to his decapitation on February 14, c. 269 CE.
  • Another legend claims that while in prison, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter and left her a note signed “From Your Valentine”, giving rise to the modern phrase.

While there is no historical evidence that Claudius banned marriage, this romanticized version of Saint Valentine’s martyrdom became widely popular.

The Middle Ages: Courtly love and romance

Associating Valentine’s Day with romantic love only began in the Middle Ages.

This may have been due to Geoffrey Chaucer, who in his 1382 poem “Parlement of Foules”, linked Saint Valentine’s Day to birds choosing their mates: “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day / When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

Also, by the 14th and 15th centuries, the concept of devoted love became central to culture, especially among the nobility. They apparently exchanged "valentines" – romantic notes, poetry, and tokens of affection.

The earliest surviving valentine was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt.

Another legend states that on 14 February, an equal number of men's and women's names (each paired with a romantic poem) were placed in a hat and drawn at random, the accidental couple then reciting the poems to one another. 

The modern celebration of Valentine's Day

By the 17th and 18th centuries, Valentine’s Day had become widely celebrated in England and France, with lovers exchanging letters and small gifts.

Eventually, with the advent of efficient postal services and mass printing of Valentine's Day greeting cards (this development began in the United States in the 19th century), the habit grew.

By the 20th century, the holiday had become a major commercial event, with chocolates, flowers, and jewelry replacing handwritten love letters.

Valentine's Day in France

While Valentine’s Day in France is not exactly what you might expect, we can still claim to be romantics at heart, whether in a village dedicated to Saint Valentine, on a love wall in Paris, or even a museum dedicated to romance.

Certainly our past is filled with stories of love and affairs of the heart, some of which even changed the course of French history.

Happy Valentine's Day wishes in French?

Joyeuse Saint Valentin!

🇫🇷
Valentine's Day pin
St Valentine's Day pin

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