Valentine’s Day Around the World

The world we live in is a big place with many countries, their cultures and their people. ‘The day of love and lovers’, or our Loved Valentine’s day as we call it is celebrated differently and weirdly (sometimes) across the world. These are some of the traditions that I found interesting.

Denmark– here, men give women a funny poem written on a beautifully cut paper and if the woman can guess who the message is from, they get an Easter egg later.

South Korea– When it comes to gift-giving and heteronormative gender roles in United States where men are the gift-givers, we see it flipped in South Korea. It’s up to women to gift flowers and chocolates to their men and one month later, on 14^th March, men make their move to gift their loved ones back. Also, one month later on 14^th of April there’s a Black day for single people where they go out with their friends and eat black bean paste noodles.

Philippines– Valentine’s day here is not just about love, but it is also about the ‘Wedding’. Yes! In Philippines, 14^th February is the most popular day to get married to the person you love.

 South Africa– have you ever heard of a classic idiom, ‘wearing your heart on the sleeve’? But, in South Africa it isn’t just an idiom but a tradition. Women wear their hearts on their sleeves. What I mean is that they wear the name of a person they love written on a heart shape and pin it on their sleeve. Sometimes, even if that person doesn’t know about it yet.

Germany– while the world is busy gifting the red cards and flowers to their loved ones, here’s a twist for you. In Germany, the pig is a symbol of Valentine’s day and many lovers gift each other a chocolate pig or pigs holding flowers/ four-leaf clovers because pig is a symbol for good luck and lust.

Japan– Japanese Valentine’s day is similar to that of South Korea, but although love is a theme in gift-giving, the females also gift chocolates to their acquaintances. Men can return the favor by gifting women on 14^th march which is also called as a White Day. The main aim of this White Day is to increase the marshmallow sale (White Day because Marshmallows are white).

Italy– In Italy, its about Hazelnut chocolates, wrapped with romantic quote. Chocolate is one of the biggest things associated with Valentine’s day the reason behind is that many doctors thought, the chocolate wasn’t just tasty but it was also a medicine. Eating chocolate would help you get over the loss of a loved one and heal the broken heart. There’s no base to this story, but chocolate definitely makes you feel good (wink). Also, Valentine’s week is the third biggest season for chocolate-candy industry following Easter and Christmas.

England– the historical English tradition was when women used to test their psychic abilities. There was a legend that while sleeping if they place bay leaves on their pillow, they’d dream of their future husband.

France– in France, there was a ‘lottery of love’. Unmarried men and women would shout at each other and then pair off but the men decided and they could break that match at any time. The rejected women would gather around a bonfire, curse and burnt the photographs of men who rejected them. This tradition was banned by French Government.

Taiwan– In Taiwan, what matters is the number of roses. For example, one red rose is a symbol for ‘My Only Love’, 11 red roses for ‘you’re my favorite’,  108 red roses means ‘marry me’.

India– Valentine’s Day in India became popular due to Western influences and there have been a lot of protests against the celebrations.

Let’s think about all of this the other way. Love is about the spending patterns and men tend to spend more during the Valentine’s week which helps in increasing the sales. Also, it is the second day (Christmas being the first) which dominates the Card market.

So, what are the weird traditions that you know? Let me know in the comments section and hope you all had a great valentine’s day with your someone special! ❤

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