On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (2024)

Featured Event

1989

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (1)

Fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie

On this day in 1989, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa and offered a bounty for the assassination of author Salman Rushdie, whose novel The Satanic Verses (1988) Khomeini denounced as blasphemous.

Peter Probst/age fotostock

Featured Biography

Frederick Douglass

United States official and diplomat

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (2)

born
February 1818?
Tuckahoe, Maryland
died
February 20, 1895
Washington, D.C., United States

National Park Service (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

More Events On This Day

Today

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (3)

Today is Valentine's Day, the feast day of St. Valentine, a priest and physician who was martyred about 270 ce in Rome, and the tradition of exchanging greetings of love on Valentine's Day is based on the legend that Valentine had signed a letter to his jailer's daughter, with whom he had fallen in love, “from your Valentine.” Why do we give Valentine's Day cards?

© Photos.com/Thinkstock

2018

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (4)

Amid scandals and corruption allegations, South African President Jacob Zuma resigned and was later replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa. Take our African leaders quiz

Sportsforpeace

Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim registered YouTube, a Web site for sharing videos; it would become hugely popular, with more than one billion unique users visiting the site every month. Test your knowledge of tech companies

© Joi Ito (CC BY 2.0)

1991

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (6)

The psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs was released in American theatres; widely regarded as a classic, it won five Academy Awards, including best picture, actor (Anthony Hopkins), actress (Jodie Foster), and director (Jonathan Demme). How much do you know about scary movies?

MGM Studios

1946

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (7)

American dancer, choreographer, and actor Gregory Hines, a major figure in the revitalization of tap dancing in the late 20th century, was born. Test your knowledge of dance

© Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com

1946

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (8)

The first general-purpose high-speed electronic digital computer, the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), was demonstrated to the public by its creators, J. Presper Eckert, Jr., and John W. Mauchly. Discover how well you know computers and operating systems

Courtesy of the Moore School of Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania

1929

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (9)

Members of Al Capone's gang of bootleggers massacred a rival gang run by George Moran in Chicago during the Prohibition era. How much do you know about Al Capone?

MPI/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1920

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (10)

With the establishment of women's suffrage in the United States, Carrie Chapman Catt formed the League of Women Voters in Chicago. Take our famous suffragettes quiz

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Illinois

1894

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (11)

American entertainer Jack Benny, whose unusual comedic method and expert timing made him a legendary success in radio and television, was born. Test your knowledge of famous Americans

© 1936 Paramount Pictures Corporation; photograph from a private collection

1876

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (12)

1779

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (13)

Captain James Cook was killed by Hawaiians in a dispute over the theft of a cutter. Test your knowledge of world explorers

Photos.com/Thinkstock

1766

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (14)

Thomas Malthus, the English economist and demographer best known for his theory that population growth will always tend to outrun the food supply and should be checked by stern limits on reproduction, is believed to have been born this day. Take our quiz about the basics of microeconomics

Courtesy of the trustees of the British Museum; photograph, J.R. Freeman & Company Ltd.

1760

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (15)

Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Philadelphia. Test your knowledge of Christianity

Culver Pictures

On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (16)

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On This Day - What Happened on February 14 (2024)

FAQs

What happened on this day, February 14th? ›

1929 – Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: Seven people, six of them gangster rivals of Al Capone's gang, are murdered in Chicago. 1939 – World War II: German battleship Bismarck is launched. 1942 – World War II: Battle of Pasir Panjang contributes to the fall of Singapore.

What's happening on the 14th of February? ›

Valentine's Day. On February 14, Americans celebrate love and friendship by exchanging cards, flowers, and candy.

What is on 14 February special day? ›

February 14 is celebrated as Saint Valentine's Day in various Christian denominations; it has, for example, the rank of "commemoration" in the calendar of saints in the Anglican Communion. The feast day of Saint Valentine is given in the calendar of saints of the Lutheran Church.

Why is February 14th so special? ›

Legend has it that Valentine cured the girl's blindness and that his final act before being executed was to write her a love message signed 'from your Valentine'. Valentine was executed on 14 February in the year 270.

What happened on this day February 14 in black history? ›

In Washington, D.C., a group led by Mary Church Terrell, (an important African American activist, educator, and author) observed Douglass's birthday every February 14th as “Douglass Day.” See Terrell's account of creating Douglass Day on the Library of Congress website.

What is the special story of 14 February day? ›

It was celebrated as the day of romance for over a period of time from about the 14th century. Another legend says that St Valentine was executed on February 14 as a punishment for performing secret marriages to save the husbands from going to war, as they were banned by Roman emperor Claudius II.

What is the sad day on February 14? ›

One of the deadliest terror attacks

Since then, India observes February 14 as a 'black day' to commemorate the sacrifice of the martyrs and to condemn the menace of terrorism.

What is happening on February 14, 2024? ›

National Organ Donor Day

The selfless act of giving the gift of life can bring hope and healing to those in need. It's a remarkable legacy that transcends time and spreads compassion.

What is the real story behind Valentine's day? ›

Turns out, it was a pretty common name during Late Antiquity. As far as anyone can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine's Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14th 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day.

What are the 7 days of Valentine's day? ›

There are seven days dedicated to celebration of love before Valentine's Day. It starts from February 7. These seven days of love are Rose Day (February 7), Propose Day (February 8), Chocolate Day (February 9), Teddy Day (February 10), Promise Day (February 11), Hug Day (February 12), and Kiss Day (February 13).

What is February most famous for? ›

Of course, February is the month of Valentine's Day and the federal holiday Presidents' Day, and it's when we honor Black History Month too.

What is a fun fact about February? ›

February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days! It's usually 28 days, though February is 29 days long in leap years such as 2024. But why 28 days? The Roman King Numa had originally made all months 29 days, as Romans believed that even numbers were unlucky.

Why is February so special? ›

February is the shortest month of the year with a fluctuation in days. Usually, the month has 28 days, but on a leap year, it has 29 days. Being the second month of the year, it is an important period that observes many national and international days. February is the second month of the Julian and Gregorian calendar.

What is sad 14 february day? ›

Singles Awareness Day is also referred to as an antithesis of Valentine's Day, especially when celebrated on February 14. It is also known by the acronym SAD particularly when negatively observed about the inability to find love.

Is today a special day for Valentine's day? ›

Today is Valentine's Day. Every year February 14 is celebrated as the final day of the week of love. On this day, people begin and celebrate their love and affection for each other.

What awareness day is February 14? ›

Observed each year on February 14th, National Donor Day (also known as National Organ Donor Day) aims to increase awareness about organ donation and the lives it saves. In the United States, more than 120,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ donation.

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