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Valentine's Day, celebrated annually on February 14th, is a worldwide holiday honoring romantic love. People express their feelings by giving each other roses, Valentine's cards, chocolates, teddy bears, and more. Around the world, the ways in which lovers celebrate Valentine's Day vary greatly.
Valentine's Day is just a few days away. It's a day when red heart-shaped balloons, roses, teddy bears, and chocolates appear everywhere... to mark this memorable occasion for couples in love.
Female:Besides celebrating Valentine's Day, Argentinians also dedicate a week in July to "Sweet Week," when kisses are exchanged along with sweet gifts. Initially, this was a candy marketing campaign, but the country quickly embraced it.
Bulgaria:On February 14th, Bulgarians celebrate St. Trifon Zarezan Day – also known as Winemakers' Day. Traditionally, people visit vineyards to participate in a ceremony before crowning the best winemaker. Today, people still participate in St. Trifon parades and celebrate Valentine's Day with a bottle of wine.
China:In China, Valentine's Day is celebrated during the Qixi Festival. This Chinese festival of love takes place on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. The celebration originates from the tragic story of two lovers forced apart by their social status. Later, they were allowed to reunite once a year. Today, this festival is a popular day for marriage in China.
Czech Republic:Although Valentine's Day is becoming increasingly popular, traditionally, May 1st is the day lovers in the Czech Republic celebrate. Many couples will make a pilgrimage to the statue of poet Karel Hynek Mácha in Petrin Park, kissing under the cherry blossoms as a way to bring good luck in the future.
Denmark:While greeting cards are sent all over the world on Valentine's Day, the Danes have had this tradition since the 18th century. Secret admirers would send gaekkebrev (joke letters) to the person they liked, usually in the form of a paper snowflake with a poem. The sender would sign their name with a dot and had to give the recipient an Easter egg if they guessed their identity.
Although each country has its own unique cultural customs for Valentine's Day, ultimately it is an occasion to celebrate and express romantic love between people in a relationship.
Estonia and Finland:February 14th is celebrated as Sobrapaev, which literally translates to Friendship Day. The same is true in Finland, where the celebration is called Ystävän Päivä.
France:France is renowned as one of the most romantic countries in the world. For the French, the arrival of February and the birds beginning to find mates and build nests is a sign that Valentine's Day is about to begin.
Typically on Valentine's Day, couples spend quality time together, doing things they enjoy such as a romantic dinner, watching a movie, or taking a walk. Besides chocolate and red roses, a favorite Valentine's Day gift in France is a heart-shaped chocolate cake.
Iraq:Kurds in Iraq celebrate this day by decorating apples with cloves to give to their partners. The apple alludes to the story of Adam and Eve. The apple also symbolizes love and prosperity.
Japan:In Japan, men are the recipients of chocolate. There are two main types: giri choco (obligation chocolate) for friends and colleagues; and honmei choco (practical feeling chocolate) for someone you have romantic feelings for. It's not until March 14th – known as White Valentine's Day – that men reciprocate by giving chocolate to women.
Philippines:Valentine's Day is a popular occasion for mass weddings, where hundreds, even thousands, of people get married simultaneously. These large events are often sponsored by the government as a form of public service.
Sweet chocolates are an essential part of Valentine's Day.
Romania:Held on February 24th, Dragobete – also known as the Day of the Engagement of the Two Birds – is a combination of Valentine's Day and the Spring Festival. Girls and boys go into the forest to pick flowers, while others wash their faces in the snow to wish for health and happiness.
South Africa:On February 14th, young people in South Africa boldly declare their love by pinning the names of their loved ones onto their sleeves. This tradition is believed to originate from the ancient Lupercalia festival.
Korea:Koreans celebrate love on the 14th of every month, not just in February. These days include: Rose Day in May, Kiss Day in June, and Hug Day in December. Especially on Black Day (April 14th), when single people gather to console themselves with Jajangmyeon – black bean noodles.
Spain:For the people of Valencia, the most romantic day of the year falls on October 9th – the feast day of Saint Dionysius, the patron saint of love. Many festivals and parades are held to mark this occasion. Traditionally, men give their partners Mocadora – small figurines made of almond cake – as a symbol of their love.
Thailand:Women seeking love visit the Trimurti temple. There, they kneel before the Hindu god of love, hoping to find their special someone.
United Kingdom:Welsh people celebrate love on January 25th – St. Dwynwen's Day. Intricately carved spoons, known as lovespoons, are traditionally exchanged between lovers, a tradition dating back to the 16th century.
England was one of the first countries to celebrate Valentine's Day. The traditional gift in England for Valentine's Day is not chocolate or roses, but spoons.
