How do the French Celebrate Valentine's Day? - Frenchly

"For many, Valentine's Day is above all an intimate pause in the blur of everyday life-a gentle moment to reaffirm affection with gestures that feel sincere rather than extravagant. A bouquet of roses, a shared dessert, a thoughtful message: these small signs of tenderness are often enough. It is therefore not surprising that, while 78% of French couples expect to receive a gift for Valentine's Day, they prioritize shared and intimate moments above all else."

"In the United States, Valentine's Day has increasingly become a commercial spectacle, with confetti, heart-shaped cookies, balloons, and decorations filling shops. In France, however, the celebration takes on a quieter, more intimate tone. Couples focus on personal gestures-a je t'aime, a cozy dinner, or a small shared experience-favoring meaningful connection over spectacle. The celebration is less about public display and more about private romance."

"The expression la fête des amoureux says it all: in France, Valentine's Day belongs to pairs. Children don't trade cards at school, and there are no Galentine's or Palentine's Day celebrations with friends. The day is reserved for romantic partners, echoing a long-standing cultural instinct that love deserves its own discreet space. Yet this exclusivity doesn't mean universal enthusiasm. Some see the holiday as a commercial import inflated by advertisers, while others welcome it as a welcome pause for reconnection."

French Valentine's Day emphasizes intimacy, restraint, and understated gestures rather than spectacle. Couples often mark the day with small, sincere acts like flowers, shared desserts, or thoughtful messages. Seventy-eight percent of French couples expect a gift, but shared experiences and private moments remain the priority. The French approach contrasts with a more commercial, decorative celebration in the United States. La fête des amoureux is traditionally reserved for romantic partners rather than friends or children. Attitudes vary: some view the holiday as commercial, while about half of couples celebrate quietly as a pause for reconnection.

Read at Frenchly