Verona, Italy - The cradle of romance

The way Italians celebrate Valentine's Day isn't much different from other cultures, with dates, chocolates, gifts, and so on. However, in the city of Verona – the place associated with the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet – the Valentine's Day atmosphere is more vibrant than ever.

“In 2018, I had the chance to visit Verona in February, right around Valentine's Day. At the Verona Arena, they were showing Romeo & Juliet for everyone to enjoy. The central square also had a giant heart-shaped structure, and everywhere there were souvenirs, food, and heart-shaped chocolates. But the most popular attraction was probably Juliet's house, with its love locks, Juliet statue, and messages that couples had written on the walls. Many people even spread the word that touching Juliet's left breast would bring good luck in love,” shared Le Thuy, who currently lives in Germany.

Furthermore, because it is known as the "city of love," thousands of love letters are sent to Verona for Juliet every year. These letters are answered by a group of volunteers in the Juliet Club. And on Valentine's Day, the club awards the "Dear Juliet" (Cara Giulietta) prize to the most touching letter.

In every part of the world, depending on preferences and culture, people have different ways of celebrating Valentine's Day. Whether it's a romantic candlelit dinner, experiencing special moments together, or celebrating with family and friends, Valentine's Day is a time for bonding and overflowing love.

Denmark - Unique Gifts

Although Valentine's Day has only become popular in Denmark in the last three decades, the people of Denmark have created their own version of the holiday. While roses have become an irreplaceable symbol of love, Denmark goes against the norm by choosing snowdrops as a gift. As the name suggests, this flower is pure white, evoking the image of delicate snowflakes.

Beyond just flowers, the way Valentine's Day is celebrated in Denmark also lies in the gifts. "Gaekkebrev," or "prank letters," are exchanged on this romantic day. They are written on intricately cut pieces of paper with elaborate designs, and the "prank" element comes from the way the sender signs them.

Instead of writing their names, they would use dots. Each dot would represent a letter in their name, and the recipient would have to guess who the sender was. If the answer was correct, the sender would have to send Easter candy. Conversely, if the recipient guessed wrong, they owed the sender an Easter gift two months later.

Finland - Friendship Day

Unlike most other countries, Finland does not consider Valentine's Day as a holiday exclusively for couples. People here celebrate friendship on this occasion, calling it "ystävänpäivä" (Friendship Day).

On this day, Finns send cards and small gifts to all the friends they care about. It's also an opportunity for them to gather, "hang out" with friends, and spend quality time together, rather than fancy candlelit dinners.

Furthermore, Finns are considered to be somewhat more reserved in expressing romantic affection in public. While in France people can freely exchange kisses and romantic gestures in public, you might rarely see this in Finland. Perhaps, in some way, this personality trait also influences how they celebrate holidays for couples in their country.

Czech Republic - Valentine's Day is in May.

Instead of celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14th like the rest of the world, the Czech Republic celebrates May 1st, coinciding with International Labor Day, as Valentine's Day. Traditionally, couples hold hands and kiss under a blooming cherry tree to pray for health, happiness, and good fortune. Petřín Park in Prague, with its many cherry trees and a statue of the poet Karel Hynek Mácha – author of the famous love poem "Máj" in Czech literature – is the most popular spot for couples.

Ha Thu - Photo: Internet