Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 across many parts of the world. Usually, it’s an opportunity for people to show their partners how much they love and care about them. Cue cute cards, flowers, candy, and reservations at romantic restaurants (which may or may not be run by the cast of Ratatouille.

And though most of us know that we shouldn’t wait for a special occasion to show our love, respect, and dedication to our soulmates, it’s still a great excuse to have a ton of fun. Especially if you’re comically inclined (congratulations!) and want to make your partner laugh until they have a stitch in their side.

We can’t overstate just how much effort the people featured in this list put in, in order to create the best, funniest, and most personal gifts and cards. It’s inspirational. But it’s also a reminder that these folks have raised the bar so high, we’ll have to go all-out this year.

Oh, it might not be a competition! But everyone’s a comedy-loving romantic (deep) at heart, so it’s the perfect opportunity to think outside the box and let your imagination loose. Everyone can use this as an excuse to bring a bit more fun and playfulness into their relationships.

Bored Panda got in touch with British comedy writer, pop music producer, and happiness expert Ariane Sherine, to get her opinion on how to write hilarious Valentine’s Day cards, as well as what to keep in mind when coming up with gift ideas.

We were curious to hear her thoughts on what the secret to a witty Valentine’s Day card might be. As it turns out, it’s all about how much care you put in while searching for a card that suits your partner best, or how much effort you take to make it personal.

“I think the funniest and best Valentine’s cards are tailored to the person. Browse the cards in the ‘Humor’ section until you find one that fits perfectly—don’t just choose the first one you see,” the comedy writer said. 

“If you don’t find the right fit in one store, keep looking. Then you can customize the card with your own message. Private jokes are perfect to fill the card with,” she said. Couples could think about all of the in-jokes they have and use those as a foundation.

According to the author of ‘The How of Happy,’ originality and creativity “are definitely important” when it comes to gift-giving. It might not be enough to get them a random thing, even if you’re doing it out of love. Take the time to tailor the gift to whom you love.

“The person wants to feel special and unique, not just receive perfume or aftershave (unless that particular perfume or aftershave has a special significance),” Ariane told Bored Panda.

“So try and think: what would my loved one actually want? Have they mentioned anything specific that they like recently?”

Meanwhile, Ariane stressed the fact that we should all remember that we’ve got every single day in the year to show our loved ones that we care about them.

“Really, every day in your relationship should be equally romantic. You shouldn’t just make a special effort on Valentine’s and then forget the rest of the year!” she said.

“So if this 14th February doesn’t live up to expectations, you have 364 other days in which you can celebrate the love of your life.”

Some time ago, dating expert Dan Bacon, the founder of The Modern Man, explained to Bored Panda that gifts are not essential for happy and healthy relationships unless the person you love places a lot of importance on them.

“What's most important for most people is that they feel loved, respected, understood, wanted, and appreciated,” he explained to us.

"Some people really don't like gift-giving and just want their presence to be the present. Others participate because they assume it's the right thing to do, whereas others do it because it really means a lot to them and is a token of their love," the dating expert told us that everyone has a different approach when it comes to gifts.

According to him, gift-giving is an expression of love and appreciation for the other person. However, gifts can also be sued to fit in, be liked, show off, or gain favor.

"For a younger couple in their teens, a teddy bear, a cute trinket, or an inexpensive piece of jewelry is usually something a girl will cherish receiving from her boyfriend. It doesn't need to be any more original than that when in a very young relationship," dating expert Dan, from The Modern Man, shared some tips on what gifts people can get their partners on a special occasion.

"For a couple in their 20s that have been together for many years, it can be a wide range of things," he said, listing "perfume, luxury pajamas with slippers, a puppy or kitten, tickets to a stage show she has been wanting to see, along with a gift voucher for her to buy a dress at her favorite store, etc." as possible ideas.

"For a married couple who've been together for over a decade, it can also be a wide range of things depending on the woman's interests," the expert told Bored Panda.

"Scented candles, a handy charging station for all her devices rather than just having them strewn everywhere in a mess on her bedside table, a new set of high-quality pots and pans, perfume and moisturizer from the same brand in a pack, a painter's startup kit (e.g. easel, palette, paints, canvasses) so she can try out painting as a hobby.”

What are your plans this Valentine's Day, dear Pandas? Have you figured out how you'd like to surprise the love of your life this year? What are the most creative, funny, or unusual gifts and cards that you ever received on February 14? We'd love to hear from you! Drop by the comment section and share your thoughts with us.