The love season is here and there is a lot of excitement and tension in the air. If you’ve ever wondered how the legendary Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world, then you are not alone.
Different cultures and countries obviously mean different Valentine’s Day celebrations and that’s the beauty of the special occasion.
Here you will learn how Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world.
Wales, UK
The Welsh annually celebrate love on St Dwynwen’s Day, January 25th. On this day, lovers exchange intricately carved wooden spoons, termed as lovespoons. This is a tradition that has been in existence since the 16th century.
Valencia, Spain
Valencians celebrate love on the Day of Saint Dianysius, the patron saint of love. It falls on October 9th. They hold many festivals and parades to celebrate the occasion. Men customarily present the marzipan figurines known as the Mocadora to their partner to show their love.
Miao, South West China
On the occasion of the Sister’s Meal Festival, women present colorful rice dishes wrapped in silk to serenading suitors. The suitors are then to find one out of the items deposited in the rice. If two chopsticks are found, it signifies love. But if a clove of garlic is found, it means the romance is not meant to be.
South Korea
South Koreans do not celebrate love only on the 14th of February. They do so on the 14th of every month. These days include May’s Rose Day, June’s Kiss Day, December’s Hug Day & April’s Black Day. April’s Black Day is set aside for singles to meet and offer support as they have Jagangmyeon (black noodles) together.
South Africa
South Africans adopt the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Young women practice the custom of pinning the name of their crush on their sleeve. It is a faster way of sending the message across.
Romania
Romanians celebrate love on the 24th of February, traditionally called Dragobete. It is also known as ‘The day birds are betrothed’. On this day, Spring is also celebrated. The forest is visited by boys and girls where they pick flowers. Others wash their face in snow to bring health & happiness.
The Philippines
In the Philippines, the government sponsors mass weddings on Valentine’s Day as a form of public service to the citizens.
Estonia
In Estonia, February 14th is set aside to celebrate friendship and not romantic love. The day is tagged Sobrapaev and can be loosely translated as ‘Friendship Day’. This also occurs in Finland where the celebration is termed, Ystavan Paiva.
Czech Republic
May 1st is the traditional day to celebrate love in the Czech Republic. Couples make a pilgrimage to the statue of poet Karel Hynek Macha in Petrin Park. They finally seal it with a kiss beneath the cherry blossom. It is believed that this will bring good luck for the coming year.
China
The Chinese festival of love is known as Qixi. It occurs on the 7th day of the 7th month on the Chinese calendar. The history is from the tragic story of two star-crossed lovers who could not be together because of their social status but were allowed to reunite once a year. Nowadays, couples pray for prosperity while singles prepare fruit in anticipation of future love.