How the world celebrates Valentine's Day
Have a sneak peak into the worlds wonderful ways in which they celebrate love and friendship on the international day of love, Valentine's Day.
Czech Republic
A traditional Valentine’s Day in Czech Republic can be expected - where romantic dinners, chocolates, cards and roses flood the day. However, this celebration of love is not with the rest of the world on 14 February, but on the 1st of May, where Cherry Trees are the umbrellas to lovers kisses - believed to bring happiness and good health!
Peru
The beautiful orchid, which is native to Peru, is the flower of choice given for Valentines Day. So don’t expect to see roses on this massive holiday in Peru. Gifts and words of love are exchanged, and one can expect to find many mass weddings in this highly celebrated month of love.
Denmark
Forget the red roses on Valentines Day in Denmark. Snowdrops are all the rage being the most popular flower for this romantic occasion. Woman will sometimes receive humorous poems called ‘gaekkebrev’, signed off with a series of anonymous dots. Should the lucky lady correctly guess who the sender is, she can look forward to receiving an Easter Egg later on the year.
Japan
Women make the first move in Valentine's Day traditions here… handing out homemade or pricey chocolates to their ‘true feeling’ sweethearts (honmei choco), otherwise they are giving ‘obligatory’ chocolate to their friends or coworkers (giri choco). Patience is a virtue, as the Japanese ladies must know well… as they need to wait a month for White Day, to find out if their affection is returned when the men hand out their gifts.
France
The iconic country of love, France, is the natural destination of choice for couples wanting to immerse themselves in Valentines Day spirit. Passionate couples would traditionally attach a padlock on ‘Love Lock Bridge’ (Pont des Arts) and then toss the keys into the nearby Seine River. Now that the bridge railings have been replaced, couples still find alternative bridges in Paris to attach their Valentines Day locks to. In commemoration of love, special love notes called ‘cartes d’amities’ are exchanged, weddings take place, vows are renewed and even trees are planted. The St Valentin Village gets decorated with flowers for its annual Valentine's Day festival - what a place to be!
Mexico
Valentines Day in Mexico is not exclusively for couples, and it is actually known as the ‘Day of Love & Friendship’. Making sure no one gets left out, friends and couples alike celebrate with gifts of cards, balloons, flowers and stuffed animal toys. Hooray for Mexico!
Estonia
Valentines Day in Estonia is actually known as ‘Friends Day’ - where friendships are valued and honoured with cards and gifts (love is still also celebrated). So while singles don’t feel lonely, they can also hop onto the ‘love bus’ which gives singletons an opportunity to find love. Estonia - probably the best place to be as as a single on this day!
Brazil
Another country stepping out and celebrating love in a unique way - Brazil does so on the 12th June. St Valentine needs to step aside, as St Anthony is the hero of the day, being the patron Saint of matchmaking and marriage. One of the customs is for woman to write down the names of men on pieces of paper and fold them up, a night before. In the morning, they select one of the paper folds to reveal the name of their future husband!
South Korea
How interesting to learn that South Korea celebrates love on the 14th of every month - it is not restricted to only February. Singles have their own day set out for them, on the 14th of April, otherwise known as ‘Black Day’, where they all get together and eat black noodles to commiserate. Nice singles support there!
Philippines
Well celebrated in the Philippines, Valentines Day here often holds mass weddings which can mostly be sponsored by their government, because it is seen as a public service. This is one of the busiest days on their tourism calendar, with people flocking to the aptly promoted travel destination, where weddings are more fun!
Germany
Valentine's Day in Germany take on a more ‘adults-only’ and grown-up nature…Very interestingly, pigs are a symbol of both luck and lust, and this is the reason for all the pig motifs seen in cards, figurines and chocolates. Germany’s main sweet treats however are beautifully baked ginger biscuits with messages of love written in icing sugar.
