HOW DO DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY?

By L.a.

HOW DO DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY?
Valentine’s day around the world

Valentine’s Day normally takes place on Feb 14th and the holiday is one of the most welcome days around the world. It’s time for couples to celebrate romance and love.

In different countries, they have many different ways of honoring the day of love. Let’s see the differences.

SOUTH KOREA

In South Korea, young couples celebrate two Valentine’s days.

The first one is on February 14th and they call it Red Day. On this day, women give their men chocolates, candies, and flowers.

One month later, on White Day,  the tables are turned, and men not only show their love with chocolates and flowers but up the ante with a gift.

CHINA

Chinese Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It is called Qixi. During Qixi, women prepare offerings of melon and other fruits to Zhinu in hopes of finding a good husband. Couples go to the temple to pray for happiness and prosperity.

FRANCE

Besides the normal Valentine’s Day, there was another traditional Valentine’s Day event in France called the loterie d’amour, or “drawing for love”.  On loterie d’amour, couples fill houses that faced one another and then take turns calling out to one another and pairing off.

When a man wasn’t satisfied with his match, he could simply leave that woman for another. As for the woman, she would burn pictures of the man who wronged them, and then she hurled swears and insults at him. However, it was so uncontrollable that the French government eventually banned the tradition altogether.

DENMARK

On Valentine’s Day, friends and sweethearts exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops instead of red roses. Also, men send their crush funny poems called gaekkebrev, signed anonymously with a series of dots. If the girl can guess who sent the letter, he’ll give her an Easter egg later in the year.

SOUTH AFRICA

The most commonly observed tradition includes going out on a romantic date with one’s Valentine. Young couples go on a date at a very romantic place. On Valentine’s day, young ladies celebrate the occasion by following an ancient Roman tradition known as “Lupercalia’. On this day, they pin their lover’s name on their sleeves. This is how South African men learn of their secret admirers.

BRAZIL

Brazilians call this day “Dia dos Namorados”. On this special day, couples exchange chocolates, cards, and flowers.  There are music festivals and dance performances on Valentine’s day. Gifting is not reserved for couples during the festival, family dinners are common on the day too. 

GHANA

Ghana is one of the largest cocoa producing countries in the world, so Valentine’s Day is celebrated as “National Chocolate Day”. It is a step that the Ghana government took in 2007 to increase its tourism. On that day, one can attend performances, music events, and restaurants have themed menus for the special day.

ROMANIA

Different from other parts of the world, Romanians celebrate this day on the 24th of February as the day when young couples get engaged. It is basically a mix of Valentine’s Day and the celebration of the spring season. Young men and women go to the forests to pick colorful flowers, while other couples wash their faces with snow as a sign of good luck.

WALES

Valentine’s Day is very different in Wales. The citizens celebrate its day of love on January 25th, which is called the “Day of San Dwynwen.” On their Valentine’s day, lovers exchange unique and beautifully handcrafted wooden spoons to each other. This tradition has been practiced since the 16th century. 

CZECH REPUBLIC

In the Czech Republic, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 1st of May. On this day, young couples go on a pilgrimage to the statue of the poet Karol Hynek Macha and kiss under the cherry trees for good luck.

No matter who you are or where you are, Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

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