A valentine is a card, gift, or message you give to someone on Valentine's Day (February 14th) to show affection or friendship. The tradition started centuries ago when people began exchanging handwritten notes expressing their feelings. Today, kids give valentines to classmates, friends exchange them, and people give them to family members they care about.

Valentines often feature hearts, flowers, or playful messages. In elementary school, you might make valentines by decorating cards with markers and stickers, then sign your name and hand them out to everyone in your class. Some valentines are funny (“You're dino-mite!”), some are sweet, and some are simple friendship notes.

The word valentine can also mean the person receiving the card or gift. If you ask someone “Will you be my valentine?” you're asking them to be the special person you celebrate with on that day. This usage feels old-fashioned now, but you'll still see it in songs, movies, and greeting cards.

Valentine's Day itself honors St. Valentine, though historians aren't entirely sure which Valentine, or exactly why the day became associated with love and friendship. What started as a religious holiday gradually transformed into the celebration of affection we know today.