Valentine Day traditions around the world

The celebrations have begun. Every country around the world celebrates Valentine Day. The tradition of celebrating Valentine Day varies from country to country.  Somewhere, it is celebrated by exchanging gifts while somewhere singles commemorate this day by eating black noodles. It is the week of love where some find their suitable partner while some place bay leaves on their bed to get dreams of their future husbands. Come, let’s have a look at how different countries around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day. 

France: France, the city of love. Here the women’s who did not find their matches gather at night and burn the photos of men who rejected them. Later, the France government banned this tradition.

Denmark & Norway: Men sends anonymous beautiful poems to their love with one dot for each letter in the name. If the women rightly guess her admirer, the men will give an egg on Easter or if the name is wrong, then the women owe him the egg on Easter.

United States of America: On the Valentine Day great events are held at various places including schools. In school, each kid makes a special box, and every kid in the class put a Valentine card in the special box of that very requisite kid. 

England: In England, women put five bay leaves at the corners and one in the middle of the bed, to bring dreams of their future husbands. 

South Africa: South Africans celebrate Valentine Day with flowers and holding other festivals. Here, women follow an ancient Roman tradition called Lupercalia in which its compulsory for women to wear their “Red Hearts” on their sleeves and pin up their lover name on it. Through this South African men learn of their secret admirers. 

Wales: Instead of celebrating the St. Valentine, the Welsh commemorate Saint Dwynwen, on 25th January. In wales, there is a tradition of giving “love spoons” to partners. Around in the 17th century, Welsh men carved intricate wooden spoons as a token of affections for the women he loved. Since then, giving love spoons on Valentine has become their traditions. Today, the Welsh exchange love spoons on occasions like weddings and anniversary.

China: In China, people celebrate Qixi festival equivalent to Valentine. The Qixi or seventh-night festival is fall on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year. According to Chinese Lore, Zhinu the heavenly king’s daughter fell in love with Niulang a poor cowherd. Later they got married and had twins. When Zhinu’s father came to know this, he sent his queen to bring Zihnu back to stars. But upon hearing the cries of Niulang and kids, the king allowed Zhinu to meet Niuland once a year on Qixi.  During Qixi, young women offer melon fruits to Zhinu, in the hope of finding a good husband. Couples also head to temples and at night people gather to watch stars Vega and Altait (Zhinu and Niulang, respectively) come close during the star-crossed paths. 

Philippines: The country celebrates Valentine Day by arranging mass ceremonies. Hundreds of couples tie knots on 14th February and take vows to love their partner faithfully. 

Argentina: The country celebrates love for an entire week in July as “Sweetness Week”, where kisses are exchanged for sweet treats.

Czech Republic: The country celebrates love day on 1st May while heading towards the statues of poet Karel, Hynek Macha in Petrin Park while a kiss beneath the cherry blossom trees to bring prosperity and happiness.