Valentine’s Day celebrations around the world
Flowers, chocolates, handwritten cards — and flash mobs. People around the world expressed their love in myriad ways on Valentine's Day: hanging hundreds of paper hearts in the streets to honor a recently deceased “Valentine's Day Bandit" in Portland, Maine; vowing to cherish and obey democracy by casting votes in Valentine's Day-themed polling stations in Indonesia; and donning heart-shaped sunglasses at a victory rally for the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs. Images captured by Associated Press photographers around the globe Wednesday showed love is a many-faceted emotion, employed not just to root for long-lasting romances but to fight for justice and counteract anger and hatred.
1/20
Swipe or click to see more
VIDEO BY AP
While February 14th marks a day full of flowers and chocolate, some used the day as an opportunity to rally for change. Watch how countries like France, Japan and others celebrated Valentine's Day.
2/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A couple take a selfie photo in front of a heart formed with lights switched on in hotel rooms during Valentine's Day in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 14.3/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Kansas City Chiefs fan brought her Valentine's Day spirit to the Super Bowl victory rally in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14.4/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A couple embrace next to the Bosphorus during Valentine's Day in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 14.5/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Justin Shady, left, kisses Nicolette Miller after she accepted his marriage proposal during a Love in Times Square event, Wednesday, Feb. 14, in New York's Times Square.6/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Couples pose for a photograph during the Valentine's Day in London, Wednesday, Feb. 14.7/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
People look at a skeleton couple kissing installation dubbed " 'Till Death Do Us Part" during a Valentine's Day event in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 13.8/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A couple kiss after a mock marriage ceremony dubbed "Married for one day" during a Valentine's Day event in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 13.9/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A couple pose for a photographer in front of the Eiffel Tower, during Valentine's day, in Paris, Wednesday, Feb. 14.10/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A man shows his finger inked to mark that he has already voted during the election at a Valentine's Day-themed polling station during the election in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 14.11/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A message drawn in the dirt on a van is seen on Valentine's Day following a nor'easter winter storm that dropped several inches of snow in Halifax on Wednesday, Feb. 14.12/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A man sells a heart shaped balloon to a couple next to the Bosphorus during Valentine's Day in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 14.13/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
An electoral worker shows a ballot paper during the vote counting for the presidential and legislative election at a Valentine's Day-themed polling station in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 14.14/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Decorations for Valentine's Day adorn the White House lawn, Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Washington.15/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Women hold candles and flowers during a "Dark Valentine" vigil to demonstrate against the rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Feb. 14.16/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Activists perform during a "One Billion Rising" event at the Rome's Spanish Steps during a flash mob on Valentine's Day in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 14. The global campaign "One Billion Rising" calls for an end to violence against women and girls.17/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Visitors to the White House take photos in front of Valentine's Day decorations in the East Landing, Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Washington.18/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A vendor uses a phone as she waits for customers at a flower shop on Valentine's Day in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Feb. 14.19/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A couple waits for their turn in a mock marriage ceremony dubbed "Married for one day" during a Valentine's Day event in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 13.20/20
Swipe or click to see more
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Valentine's Day Hearts decorate a storefront on Exchange Street, Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Portland, Maine. The public has helped honor the memory of Kevin Fahrman, the Valentine's Day Bandit who secretly hung hundreds of red paper hearts throughout the city every Feb. 14th. Farman died last year.
Hawaii baseball team defeats Hawaii Pacific, 10-8
Kilauea erupts high lava fountains in 16th episode
Mass layoffs of 10,000 staffers begin at U.S. health agencies
Transgender Day of Visibility march and rallies
Aftermath of a strong earthquake in Myanmar
Back in the Day: Photos from Hawaii’s Past
Hawaii men’s volleyball turns back UC San Diego
7.7 magnitude quake rocks Myanmar, Thailand
Kilauea volcano puts on a spectacular show before pausing
Subscriber Favorites
Sterling Carvalho out as Kahuku head football coach
Actor Val Kilmer, who played Batman and Jim Morrison, dies at 65
Man, 34, arrested after Kaneohe dog attack leads to assault
Son displayed symptoms of mental illness before attack, mom testifies
UH men’s basketball teams lands combo guard transfer from Utah
More Photo Galleries
Hawaii baseball team defeats Hawaii Pacific, 10-8
Kilauea erupts high lava fountains in 16th episode
Mass layoffs of 10,000 staffers begin at U.S. health agencies
Transgender Day of Visibility march and rallies
