How Valentine’s Day in France Is So Different From the American Version (There is Even a Village Named After It)

Valentine’s Day in France isn’t all about clichés like roses and chocolates; it has its own vibe with a few surprises tucked in. Sure, you’ll find romantic dinners and flowers, but did you know there’s an actual village called Saint-Valentin that goes all out with heart-shaped decorations and love-themed events? It’s like walking into a real-life Valentine’s card.

The French have their own way of doing things when it comes to love. Forget the mass-produced cards we’re used to; they don’t exist. To send my husband a Valentine’s Day card, I have to be organized and order one online, as you can’t find them in supermarkets or card shops.

Then there are the quirky traditions that could only happen in France (hint: there was once a love lottery). Curious? You should be, as France doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Valentine’s Day traditions.

9 Things You Might Not Know About Valentine’s Day in France

From a country whose capital city is thought to be one of the most romantic cities in the world, there’s plenty here to fall in love with, even if some things leave you raising your eyebrow.

No. 1 The Village of Saint Valentin is the Village of Love

The village of Saint-Valentin in France, located 260 kilometers south of Paris, has completely embraced its romantic namesake and has become known as the “Village of Love.” With less than 300 inhabitants, this cute little village transforms each year around Valentine’s Day into a hub for lovers and romantics from across the globe.

It began in 1980 when the ambitious mayor at the time, Pierre Rousseau, suggested fully capitalizing on the village’s name by creating an annual festival. 

This festival, lasting three or four days, typically starts on February 11th or 12th and continues through February 14th, drawing numerous visitors with its romantic ambiance and love-themed activities​.

One of the most notable features of Saint-Valentin is the Tree of Vows, where lovers can hang heart-shaped metal sheets engraved with their names, symbolizing their commitment and love. 

Additionally, there’s the Tree of Eternal Hearts, where many couples celebrate their love, often with marriage proposals or vow renewals. Visitors can also plant a tree in Lovers Garden (Jardin des Amoureux), symbolizing the growth and flourishing of their love​

​​Is it a little tacky? Of course, it is, but it’s so wonderfully French that all is forgiven, and besides, as a marketing stunt, it has stood the test of time, still drawing in the crowds every year.

This small village in France has successfully transformed itself into a global symbol of love and romance, attracting visitors year-round, especially during Valentine’s Day.

No. 2 The Certificats Aux Amoureus (Lovers Certificate)

As if a festival, lover’s garden, and the tree of vows weren’t enough, the village also started a tradition of the Confirmation of Marriage, a symbolic gesture in which couples can receive a diploma of love issued by the mayor.

It’s meant to validate and celebrate couples’ commitments and love. As I mentioned earlier, the village’s ties to Japan are quite strong.

It’s partly due to the popularity of a postage stamp, “The Valentine’s Day of Peynet,” designed by the French cartoonist Raymond Peynet, known for his romantic illustrations.

No. 3 Valentine’s Day is For Adults, Not Kids

In France, Valentine’s Day is primarily a celebration for adults, especially romantic couples. 

Unlike in some countries, such as the United States or the United Kingdom, where Valentine’s Day activities often include children exchanging cards and gifts in schools, the French are focused on adult relationships.

I don’t know about you, but I have never forgotten the sheer agony as a teenager waiting to see if the person you fancied would slip a card into your desk. And then the heartbreak that inevitably followed when they gave a card to someone else.

In France, teenagers are spared all of this, as the emphasis is on romantic expressions between adult partners rather than a broader celebration of love that includes friends or family.

No. 4 The French Don’t Give Valentine’s Day Cards

The French aren’t big on cards, period. When I first moved here, I was surprised that they didn’t have card shops like ours. So, there are no Hallmark cards or Clintons in France; they simply don’t exist.

You can get some very basic cards in your local supermarket, but the range is small. So, I tend to use one of the online services instead, such as Funky Pigeon or Moonpig.

However, the French don’t completely ignore the event; they prefer to do it in person rather than by card. Many restaurants host special Valentine’s events, as in other countries, and you’ll see some great pastry displays in local patisseries.

The French love their chocolate, and last year, I saw some gorgeous chocolate heart-inspired creations in the chocolatiers in Bordeaux.

No. 5 Valentine’s Day in France Used To Be a Loterie d’Amour (lottery of love)

If there is one French Valentine’s tradition I’m happy is no longer in existence, it’s this one. 

The “loterie d’amour” or “lottery of love” was a custom in which single people, particularly in Paris, stood outside houses and called out to other singletons across the street until they paired off. 

If a man was not attracted to the woman he was paired with, he could leave her. 

The women who were left behind would then gather together for a bonfire where they would burn pictures of the men who abandoned them and curse them. 

This event, while initially intended as a festive and playful way to find a match, often, as you can imagine, led to escalated emotions and was eventually banned by the French government​​​​.

No. 6 The Duke of Orléans Wrote the First Valentine’s Poem

The romantic part of me loves this tale about Charles, Duke of Orléans, a French nobleman credited with writing what is considered the first Valentine’s Day poem.

Apparently, this poem was written during the 15th century when Charles was captured at the Battle of Agincourt and held prisoner in the Tower of London. The poem, sent to his wife, is believed to be the earliest surviving “Valentine.”

The poem tells of his feelings of love and longing. Charles was only 21 years old at the time of writing it and in the first year of his captivity. 

In the poem, he conveys a sense of weariness from love, addressing his “very gentle Valentine.” It speaks to the timing of their births, suggesting that for love to have flourished, they were born either too late or too soon for each other. 

The poem really reflects a deep emotional connection and a poignant sense of what might have been lost or unattainable due to their separation.

What’s lovely is that this early Valentine’s poem is significant not only as a historical artifact but also because it marks the beginning of the tradition of expressing romantic love through written words on Valentine’s Day.

The tradition of sending Valentine’s cards and poems grew from these early expressions of love and continues to be a central part of Valentine’s Day celebrations today.

No. 7 France Didn’t Invent the Valentine’s Day Holiday

Valentine’s Day, commonly associated with expressions of love and romance on February 14th, has a history that predates its current associations with love and does not originate in France. 

The holiday’s roots can be traced back to ancient Roman times, to the festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration celebrated in mid-February. 

Lupercalia was characterized by more earthy and fertility-oriented practices, quite distinct from the romantic connotations of modern Valentine’s Day.

The transition from Lupercalia to St. Valentine’s Day as a celebration of romantic love is attributed to the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius I forbade the celebration of Lupercalia. 

While the precise origin of St. Valentine’s Day is unclear, it’s often linked to one or more Christian martyrs named Valentine or Valentinus. 

One popular story involves a priest named Valentine who performed secret marriages for young lovers in defiance of a decree by Emperor Claudius II, which led to Valentine’s martyrdom.

Another legend speaks of Valentine sending a love letter, signed “From your Valentine,” to a young girl, possibly his jailor’s daughter, while he was imprisoned.

It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that Valentine’s Day began to be associated with romantic love. This change in perception is partly attributed to the belief, particularly in England and France, that February 14 marked the beginning of birds’ mating season, adding a romantic notion to the date. 

The first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love was in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules.” 

So, while France contributed to the evolution of Valentine’s Day, particularly with the Duke of Orleans’ poem, the holiday itself didn’t originate there but evolved from a mix of ancient Roman practices and medieval European traditions​.

No. 8 How To Say “Happy Valentine” in French

In French, “Happy Valentine’s Day” can be said in two ways: “Joyeux Saint Valentin” and “Bonne Saint Valentin.” 

Both phrases convey the same meaning, but now I’ve found that the French often substitute a more formal ‘Bonne’ for the casual ‘Bonne’ before a phrase or word. 

In fact, my post lady always wishes me a ‘bon weekend’ if I see her on a Friday. 

Something else I’ve found interesting is you’ll often hear Valentine’s Day referred to as “la Saint Valentin,” despite “Saint Valentin” being a masculine noun. 

This is because it’s a shortened version of the phrase “la fête de Saint Valentin,” which is consistent with the French way of referring to saints’ feasts, where the article matches the implied “fête” rather than the saint’s name. 

My French lessons are starting to pay off, as I was able to answer this for a friend a little while ago without looking it up. 

My French teacher, Sharon, would be proud as she’s been drumming this into me for a while now.

No. 9 The French created the symbol of love, the heart

The heart symbol is believed to represent love and to have been found in an early depiction in the 13th-century French manuscript “Roman de la poire” (Romance of the Pear). 

This manuscript includes an illustration where a figure, symbolizing an enamored gaze, offers a heart to a lady, representing the act of giving one’s heart as a symbol of love. 

This image is considered one of the first artistic representations linking the heart shape to romantic love. 

However, the exact origins and evolution of the heart symbol in art and culture remain subject to various interpretations and theories​​. Although I think we can give ownership of this to France, don’t you?