Is Valentine's Day Only for Couples? Who Else Can Be Your Valentine

4. Can your mom or family be your valentine?

Yes. Family counts, and more than half of the people celebrating buy something for a relative. Family love is the easiest kind to take for granted, and February 14 is a good excuse to say it out loud.

• Call or visit: ten minutes on the phone often means more than anything in a box.
• Send a card by mail: a handwritten card is rare enough now that it gets kept.
• Don't forget the in-laws: a small gift goes a long way, and we have ideas for gifts for a mother-in-law too.

If your family shows love by teasing, the Mom Thank You mug does both jobs. It says "Mom" in big letters, then "Thank you for giving me life and thank you for not taking it back during my teen years." There are more in our funny mugs for moms.

5. Is it okay to give a coworker a valentine?

Yes, as long as it is small, friendly and clearly not romantic. Work is the one place where a valentine can be misread, so keep it light.

• Go for the group: candy for the whole team is the safest choice.
• Keep one-to-one gifts for work friends: the person who covers your shift or saves you a seat in every meeting.
• Skip anything personal: no flowers, jewelry or perfume. Food, a card or a desk gift is fine.

A joke about work is the easiest way to keep it friendly. The Favorite Coworker mug says "You're my favorite coworker :) PS: (Don't tell anyone)", which is about as far from a love note as you can get. For more options, see our gift ideas for coworkers or the full shelf of coworker mugs.

6. If someone asks you to be their valentine, are you dating?

Not automatically. Between adults it usually hints at romantic interest, but it does not make you a couple. What it means depends on who is asking and how.

• From a friend or relative: it's affection. Say yes and enjoy the candy.
• From someone you've been flirting with: it probably means they'd like a date on the 14th.
• If you can't tell: ask. "As friends, or as a date?" is a fair question, and a kind one.

If you are in a couple, the day is still yours. Our guides to Valentine's Day mug gifts and gift ideas for your husband cover that side, and so do our couple mugs.

7. What can you do on Valentine's Day if you're single?

Treat it as a day for the love you already have, including your own company and your pet. In the same NRF survey, nearly one-third (31%) of people who weren't planning to celebrate still expected to mark the day somehow, often with a treat for themselves or time with friends and family.

• Treat yourself: the good takeout, the long bath, the thing you keep putting back on the shelf.
• Get people together: single friends, siblings, neighbors. Nobody needs a date to eat pasta.
• Spoil the pet: a longer walk, a new toy, a spot on the sofa.

Pets are on more Valentine's lists than ever, and the My Best Friend Has Four Paws mug sums up why. It says "My Best Friend Has Four Paws" beside four paw prints, so it suits a dog person or a cat person. We have more mugs for dog lovers if that is your valentine this year.

However you spend February 14, the rule is simple: pick the people (or the pet) who make your life better, and tell them. It doesn't have to be a partner, and it doesn't have to be big.