Annual observance

Love Note Day

September 26 Kindness / Community Updated 2026-07-10

The Obscure Holiday Calendar app highlights Love Note Day 💌 with polished artwork, notifications, and one-tap sharing.

Overview

Love Note Day, observed annually on September 26th, is an unofficial holiday dedicated to the timeless act of expressing affection through a written message. It encourages individuals to take a moment to compose and share heartfelt notes, letters, or cards with loved ones, friends, or family members. This day emphasizes the personal touch, effort, and lasting impact of a tangible written expression of love, appreciation, or admiration in an increasingly digital world.

Why it matters: Love Note Day, celebrated on September 26, highlights the importance of expressing affection through handwritten messages, fostering deeper connections in a digital age. This day serves as a reminder of the lasting impact that personal, tangible expressions of love and appreciation can have on our relationships.

Origin and story

The oldest known love poem, written on a Sumerian clay tablet, dates back to approximately 2000 BCE.

The tradition of sending written declarations of love became widely popular in the 17th century, especially with the rise of Valentine's Day cards.

Quick facts

  • DateSeptember 26
  • TypeKindness / Community
  • Great forCommunity groups, Friends, Coworkers

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Ways to celebrate

Love notes are a much older tradition than greeting cards — the oldest known example was written on clay almost 4,000 years ago, and it sat forgotten in a museum drawer for decades before anyone realized what it was.

Meet the world's oldest love poem

The Love Song for Shu-Sin, inscribed on a Sumerian clay tablet around 2000 BCE, was likely recited by a priestess during a sacred New Year fertility rite for the king. The tablet sat untranslated in Istanbul's Museum of the Ancient Orient until Sumerologist Samuel Noah Kramer rediscovered its significance in 1951.

Read the actual words

Read a translation of the poem itself and notice how directly it still reads — nearly four millennia later, its lines of longing and affection aren't so different from a modern love note.

Write one of your own

Write a short, genuine note to someone you care about — no occasion required, and no clay tablet necessary.

Helpful resources: The World's Oldest Love Poem: The Love Song for Shu-Sin (World History Encyclopedia)

Fun facts

  • The oldest known love poem, written on a Sumerian clay tablet, dates back to approximately 2000 BCE.
  • The tradition of sending written declarations of love became widely popular in the 17th century, especially with the rise of Valentine's Day cards.
  • Studies suggest that expressing gratitude and affection through written words can significantly strengthen relationships and boost the well-being of both the sender and receiver.

Sources and attribution

External links may lead to third-party websites.


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FAQ

When is Love Note Day?
It is observed on September 26 each year.
What is Love Note Day?
Love Note Day, observed annually on September 26th, is an unofficial holiday dedicated to the timeless act of expressing affection through a written message. It encourages individuals to take a moment to compose and share heartfelt notes, letters, or cards with loved ones, friends, or family members. This day emphasizes the personal touch, effort, and lasting impact of a tangible written expression of love, appreciation, or admiration in an increasingly digital world.
How do people celebrate Love Note Day?
Write someone a genuine note, and read about the Love Song for Shu-Sin, a Sumerian clay tablet from around 2000 BCE considered the world's oldest known love poem.

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