February 14 is day 45 of the year and is best known as Valentine’s Day. It falls on a Sunday in 2027 and a Monday in 2028. Two American states were admitted to the Union on this date, 53 years apart.
The date carries an unusually sharp contrast in its historical record.
It is the feast day associated with Saint Valentine and the modern day of romance, and it is also the date of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929 and of the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie in 1989.
In 2027 it adds another layer: Super Bowl LXI is played that evening.
Table of Contents
What day of the week is February 14?
February 14 is day 45 of the year in both common and leap years, because it precedes February 29.
| Year | Day of week |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
| 2031 | Friday |
| 2032 | Saturday |
| 2033 | Monday |
| 2034 | Tuesday |
| 2035 | Wednesday |
The weekday advances by one each year and by two across a leap year, which is why 2028 to 2029 skips Tuesday and 2032 to 2033 skips Sunday.
Observances on February 14
| Observance | Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valentine’s Day | International | Not a US federal holiday |
| Oregon Statehood Day | Oregon | Admitted 1859 |
| Arizona Statehood Day | Arizona | Admitted 1912 |
| Feast of Saint Valentine | Christian | Removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 |
| National Donor Day | United States | Organ and blood donation awareness |
| League of Women Voters founding anniversary | United States | Founded in Chicago, 1920 |
Nothing closes for February 14. Valentine’s Day appears nowhere in 5 U.S.C. 6103 and confers no federal holiday status.
In 2027 the date also carries Super Bowl LXI and the first Sunday of Lent, with Presidents Day the following morning.
Historical events on February 14
1779 — Captain James Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, during a confrontation with Native Hawaiians following an attempted kidnapping of the Hawaiian monarch (Britannica).
1859 — Oregon was admitted to the Union as the 33rd state, when President James Buchanan signed the enabling bill (Oregon Blue Book; Associated Press, Today in History).
1876 — Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray filed separate patent applications relating to the telephone on the same day. The Supreme Court eventually ruled Bell the rightful inventor (Associated Press, Today in History).
1912 — Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th state, when President William Howard Taft signed the proclamation. It was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted (Associated Press, Today in History).
1929 — The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place at a garage at 2122 North Clark Street in Lincoln Park, Chicago, at around 10:30 a.m. Seven members and associates of the North Side Gang were shot dead by between four and six men, two disguised as police officers. The killings are generally attributed to Al Capone’s organisation (Wikipedia; Associated Press).
1949 — Israel’s Knesset convened for the first time, in Jerusalem (Associated Press, Today in History).
1989 — Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses (Wikipedia, Selected Anniversaries; Associated Press).
1990 — Voyager 1 photographed Earth from approximately 3.7 billion miles away, producing the image known as the Pale Blue Dot.
2005 — The video-sharing site YouTube was founded by three former PayPal employees (Wikipedia, Selected Anniversaries).
Notable births on February 14
| Year | Person | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| 1766 | Thomas Malthus | British economist and demographer |
| 1818 | Frederick Douglass | Abolitionist, orator and writer |
| 1894 | Jack Benny | American comedian, born Benjamin Kubelsky |
| 1913 | Jimmy Hoffa | American labour leader |
| 1943 | Maceo Parker | American saxophonist |
| 1970 | Simon Pegg | English actor and writer |
Frederick Douglass’s inclusion needs a note. He was born into slavery and never knew his exact birth date, and chose February 14 himself — he recalled his mother calling him her “little valentine.” The date is his own, not a record.
Zodiac sign and birthstone for February 14
February 14 falls under Aquarius, which runs from approximately January 20 to February 18.
The date sits four days before the Pisces boundary, so it is not a cusp date and the sign is unambiguous under any published boundary set.
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Sign dates | About January 20 to February 18 |
| Element | Air |
| Birthstone | Amethyst |
| Alternate birthstone | Jasper, in some traditions |
| Birth flowers | Violet and primrose |
Sign boundary dates shift by up to a day between sources because the Sun’s entry into each sign varies slightly year to year. For February 14 the variation makes no difference.
How many days until February 14?
The next February 14 falls on a Sunday in 2027. It is day 45 of the year, leaving 320 days remaining after it in a common year and 321 in a leap year.
February 14 is 45 days after New Year’s Day and 46 days before April 1.
Frequently asked questions
What day of the week is February 14, 2027?
Sunday. February 14, 2027 is also Super Bowl Sunday — Super Bowl LXI is played that evening at SoFi Stadium — and the first Sunday of Lent. The following day, Monday, February 15, is Washington’s Birthday, a federal holiday.
What is celebrated on February 14?
Valentine’s Day, internationally. February 14 is also Oregon Statehood Day and Arizona Statehood Day, marking admissions in 1859 and 1912, and National Donor Day in the United States. None is a federal holiday.
What zodiac sign is February 14?
Aquarius, which runs from about January 20 to February 18. February 14 sits well inside the range rather than on a cusp, so the sign does not vary between sources. The February birthstone is amethyst.
