Valentine’s Day traditions began in medieval Europe approximately five centuries ago. Today, many people across the globe give small Valentine’s Day gifts like cards or candies to friends and family. Chocolate and flowers—including the ever-iconic Valentine’s Day roses—are popular with couples who may choose to go out for a romantic dinner. But not everyone celebrates like this. To break from tradition, some countries even celebrate love on a date other than February 14. Although Valentine’s Day is highly commercialized in some places, for many people it’s still a day of simple gestures of love and friendship.
Another meaningful gesture of love for family, friends and community members is learning their native language. You might want to show your affection to your grandparents by learning their mother tongue, or demonstrate your appreciation for your neighbor. Or perhaps you’d like to woo that attractive individual whose native language isn’t English.
Whatever your motive, Rosetta Stone can help you learn 25 languages, including every language spoken in the countries listed below! Our fun, engaging learning method prepares you for real-world conversations, big and small. Plus, each lesson is fully immersive, allowing you to learn a new language in a way no other classroom, textbook, or platform can mimic.
Now, let’s take a tour of Valentine’s Day traditions around the world! And when you’re done with this post, learn how to say a heartfelt “I love you” in 25 languages.
Europe
1. France: Le village des amoureux
The French have a reputation for being romantic, and what’s not to love about wine, pastries, chocolate, and flowers at a little café? In France, Valentine’s Day celebrations tend to be for couples. Though partners might exchange cards, they’re not always keen on them. Instead, they might write a letter or invite their beloved to a romantic dinner or perhaps even a weekend away.
One place that’s popular with couples is a village in the Indre region called St. Valentine where couples can get a certificate of love from the mayor. Le village des amoureux (the village of lovers) hosts a festival starting a few days before February 14, which features tree-related love themes and special love-related events. There’s the Tree of Eternal Hearts for couples to propose marriage or renew their vows and the Tree of Vows for couples to hang an engraved heart with their names to express their commitment. Finally, couples can plant a tree in the Jardín des Amoreux (Lovers’ Garden) as a symbol of their thriving relationship.
>> Check out the full list of unique French holidays happening this year!
2. Germany: Lebkuchenhertz
Valentine’s Day in Germany isn’t a longstanding tradition and instead seems to have been imported by American soldiers during World War II. About half of Germans celebrate Valentine’s Day nowadays much like we do in the US with chocolates, gifts, flowers, and one big exception: pigs. Pigs represent love and even lust, so they are given as gifts in various forms on this day.
Perhaps the most beautiful tradition for Valentine’s Day in Germany are lebkuchenhertz. These are heart-shaped cookies made of gingerbread and decorated with frosting, including messages of love. Hanging from colorful ribbons, these large cookies are also made for Oktoberfest.
>> Learn 100+ basic German phrases to help you navigate any conversation!
3. Greece: Honoring St. Hyacinth
Valentine’s Day became somewhat popular in Greece in the 1970s and many do choose to hold their weddings on this day. The Greek Orthodox Church, however, does not officially celebrate the St. Valentine’s feast on February 14. The day before, February 13, takes precedence instead as it celebrates the feast day of the two patron saints of love and marriage: Aquila and Priscilla.
An additional day of love and poetry is also celebrated on July 3. On this day, Greeks celebrate the feast of St. Hyacinth, a Christian martyr who died at a young age in the early part of the second century under a Roman emperor. St. Hyacinth is the patron saint of young people, love, and people in love.
4. Ireland: Anonymous love notes
Folks in contemporary Ireland send cards, but don’t typically sign them. It’s a lot of fun to try and figure out who sent them! People show their affection for their loved ones and exchange small gifts, but some people choose not to participate due to the commercial nature of the day. Those more prone to the origins of February 14 may visit Saint Valentine’s shrine in Dublin.
5. Italy: La Festa Degli Innamorati
Valentine lived in Italy before it was Italy. But just because he came from there doesn’t mean his feast day is celebrated as it is in other countries. In times past, it was more of a festival of spring that honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage. Single women traditionally chose their husband on this day. As time went on, this day became a holiday known as La Festa Degli Innamorati (The Festival of Those in Love), a time for couples to stroll through the streets or parks. Even today, Valentine’s Day is more for couples to go out to eat and give each other small gifts such as the famous Baci Perugina (Perugina kisses), individual chocolates with a message of love written in their wrappers.
>> Don’t forget to say thank you! Here’s our guide to the many meanings of “prego” in Italian.
6. The Netherlands: Valentijnsdag
Valentine’s Day–called Valentijnsdag in Dutch–is not so popular among lovers in the Netherlands. Those who do celebrate, often give typical gifts like cards, candy, or flowers. After World War II, there was an attempt to popularize the holiday. Some folks were encouraged to buy flowers, more in appreciation for friends and acquaintances than as a romantic gesture (remember that the Netherlands is a big flower producer). In the 1990s, anonymous newspaper ads declaring one’s love became a fad too.
The lack of interest in Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean the Dutch are not romantic. On the contrary, in one recent survey, Amsterdam was voted the third most romantic city in the world!
7. Poland: Love locks and Chelmo, the city of lovers
Walentynki means Valentine’s Day in Polish. The Polish started celebrating Valentine’s Day with typical cards, flowers, and chocolates, but only after the fall of Communism.
Once the Father Bernatek Bridge was inaugurated in 2010, this Krakow bridge became full of “love locks,” the small metal padlocks that adorn several bridges in Europe. To the disappointment of some, they were removed in 2023 to prevent architectural damage. If you want to express your commitment to someone in Poland, we recommend buying them a nice ciastka w kształcie serca (heart-shaped cookie) instead.
People in Poland also visit Chelmo, northwest of Lodz, on this day. There are relics from St. Valentine there, and couples may take a trip to this “city of lovers” to ask the saint to bless their marriage. At night, a giant heart is lit in the town square, which also features fireworks.
8. Russia: Gift giving
Valentine’s Day was not celebrated in Russia until the 1990s. Russia is a place where both children and adults celebrate their friendship or love, but the day is particularly popular with teens and young adults. Though flowers are often gifted, people may give chocolates, toys, balloons, or heart-shaped cards, too.
9. Spain: La Festa de Sant Jordi
Spain is not big on Día de San Valentín (Valentine’s Day), especially because places like Valencia and Barcelona have their own dates for celebrating love and friendship. In Valencia, they have St. Dionysius Day on October 9, also known in Valencian as Día de la Comunitat Valenciana (Day of the Valencian Community)—a day that’s not just for the community but also for those who are in love.
Catalonia celebrates a holiday known as la Festa de Sant Jordi (Festival of St. Jordi) on April 23, which is also International Book Day. Traditionally, women received a rose on this day and men a book, but more recently, this has changed, so folks give either item as a gift. The streets of Barcelona are full of book sellers…and the sweet smells of roses. Even some buildings get adorned with this flower of love!
10. Sweden: Kärleksmums
Valentine’s Day celebrations emerged in the 1960s and took decades to become more popular. Families, children and couples celebrate this day by giving small gifts like pastries, candies, or flowers. People in Sweden may also make something called Kärleksmums (love cake), a chocolate cake with coconut-coffee icing. Romantic dinners in the evening, either at home or at a restaurant, are popular among couples.
11. United Kingdom: A Shakespearean tradition
We covered Northern Ireland’s festivities above, but what about the rest of the United Kingdom? Evidence exists that people of medieval Great Britain recognized February 14 as a day for lovers. Mid-February also coincided with mating season for birds, which were later featured on Valentine’s Day cards.
Shakespeare, who lived in the first half of the seventeenth century, mentions the day in one of his plays. Toward the end of the century, folks would have a sweethearts lottery where they would draw names to form couples and woo each other with small gifts.
Most folks in the modern UK prefer to spend time together at home, although some do go out to eat for February 14. Greeting cards, chocolates, and flowers are especially popular as gifts, but a few people buy clothes, jewelry, or perfume for their loved one. Like the Irish, other folks in the UK may not sign their cards to give their declarations of love a mysterious flair.
The Welsh celebrate love on another day: January 25, the feast day of St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers.
Latin America
12. Brazil: Dia dos Namorados
Brazilians don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14. They’re too busy with carnaval in February—the biggest and most famous carnaval celebration in the world! They do celebrate Dia dos Namorados (Day of Those in Love or Lovers’ Day) on June 12 on the eve of an important day: the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, who is the patron saint of marriage. He is thought to bless married couples with happiness and good fortune.
Brazilians celebrate Dia dos Namorados similar to the way people in Europe or the US celebrate Valentine’s Day with a few exceptions. Women who are single may perform rituals known as simpatias in order to find a husband or a boyfriend. Another special aspect of this day are the decorations. Both homes and streets are decorated, and there’s usually a parade or even smaller carnivals.
>> Sound like a Brazilian native with this video series on conversational Brazilian Portuguese!
13. Mexico: Día del Amor de la Amistad
This celebration is known as Día del Amor de la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship) in Mexico. As the name implies, it’s a day not just for lovers but also for friends, family, classmates, and coworkers. It’s simply a celebration to show your affection and appreciation of those you are in contact with on a daily basis.
Couples may celebrate by going out to dinner and giving their loved one a small gift. Balloons are popular among friends, who may decide to do something together as a group like have a meal, go out for cocktails or go on an outing. Children may create handmade Valentines for their classmates or parents.
>> Looking to join in on the fun? Check out the complete list of unique holidays in Mexico.
Middle East
14. Egypt: Eid al Hob al Masry
Egypt has two days for celebrating love. There’s February 14 when you’ll see a lot of pink and red along with roses and stuffed animals. That’s the day for couples. Then there’s November 4, a day to celebrate love in a wider sense: not just for friends and family but also for neighbors, spiritual matters , and your home country. Even life is honored on this day.
Journalist Mostafa got the idea for Eid al Hob al Masry (Love Day) when he witnessed a funeral with only a few people in attendance. He decided people should pay more attention to the concept of love in a general sense, a noble thought indeed.
>> Learn the meaning behind “wallah,” “yallah,” and other catchy words in Arabic.
15. Iran
Valentine’s Day in Iran has only become popular in the last couple of decades. However, the authorities have tried to dissuade people from celebrating it, since they see the holiday as a form of Western decadence. In fact, Valentine’s Day was officially banned in 2010–along with anything love related for February 14 like cards with hearts or roses. Coincidentally, this day also marks the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
Nevertheless, Iranians still buy flowers, candies, heart-shaped balloons and teddy bears to celebrate February 14, which might be seen as a form of consumerism…but also a form of resistance.
16. Israel: Tu B’Av
Valentine’s Day has only become somewhat popular in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in recent years. It’s still a quieter holiday—couples choose to go to dinner or friends attend parties. Perhaps February 14 is a smaller celebration because Israel already has a day of love, occurring at the height of summer: Tu B’Av, when marriages or marriage planning may happen along with prayers and Torah study.
>> Perfect your Hebrew in everyday situations with this video series!
17. Turkey: Sevgililer Günü
Valentine’s Day became popular in the last few decades, and only about a third of the population celebrates it. That doesn’t mean you won’t see plenty of hearts and frilliness if you visit Turkey around this time of year. People in Turkey celebrate Valentine’s Day as they do in many other countries—with gifts and dinners—but it’s also a particularly popular day for marriages and marriage proposals. The day is called Sevgililer Günü in Turkish, which means Lovers’ Day. That said, even though the focus is on couples, moms tend to get Valentine’s gifts on this day.
Asia
18. China: Qixi Festival
China has a special love festival on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in August. It’s called Qixi and is based on a mythological story of two lovers. Due to their different social status, they were only allowed to see each other once a year. Although in times past, women displayed their needlework skills on this day and the “weaver fairy” was honored, today the Chinese celebrate this day in a way similar to the Western celebration of Valentine’s Day.
>> Express your love for family and friends. Learn the basics in Mandarin Chinese.
19. India
While some people in India partake in the usual Western festivities on Valentine’s Day, quite a few are vehemently opposed to it. Recently, February 14 was named “Cow Hug Day.” Like many animals, cows can enlighten and calm the spirits of humans. That said, the proposal was met with some controversy and quickly reversed. On the human front, police may offer traffic safety demonstrations that include flower giving, and trade union members may hold flower-laden protests. It’s also a day when some organizations and towns promote inter-caste marriages.
20. Japan: White Day
The Japanese celebrate Valentine’s Day, but with a twist: only women give presents on February 14. Women usually gift chocolate, but not just to their boyfriends or male partners. Coworkers, classmates, friends or female partners may also receive gifts.
Then, on March 14, also known as White Day, men are expected to reciprocate the gifts received from their female counterparts. And romantic partners are expected to give a bigger gift! These may take the form of flowers, chocolate or other items. Same-sex couples may opt to exchange gifts either in February or March, or set up their own plan for giving and reciprocating.
Gift-giving and reciprocating have a whole set of social codes in Japan. You can read all about it in our White Day guide!
21. Korea: Black Day
In South Korea, every 14th of the month is a reason to celebrate love, and each month has a theme: Diary Day (January), Rose Day (May), Kiss Day (June), Silver Day (July), Green Day (August), Photo Day (September), Wine Day (October), Movie Day (November), Hug Day (December).
February and March are much like Japan’s Valentine’s Day and White Day. However, in Korea even the chronically single get their day: April 14 is Black Day, when uncoupled folks celebrate, lament, or simply laugh about their single status over a bowl of Jjajangmyeon, a black noodle dish while wearing—you guessed it—black.
22. The Philippines: A wedding for everyone
Couples in the Philippines who can’t afford expensive weddings often wait until February 14 to get married. But these nuptials are not a private affair! Rather, mass weddings are held when everyone gets married all at once. The government supports these mass marriages for couples who have been living together but can’t afford to tie the knot. The bride and groom even get all the typical wedding accoutrements: rings, flowers, a party with a cake, gifts and some cash.
23. Vietnam: Go big or go home
Valentine’s Day in Vietnam can be quite a big deal. Coming on the heels of Tet, the Lunar New Year, couples may do the typical things we see in other parts of the world such as buy gifts and go to dinner. The difference is in how they do them. Gifts tend to be expensive, red, or simply large in size, such as a giant teddy bear. They may be imported or made by hand too.
Couples don’t just buy for each other. They buy matching gifts together! These are called “couple’s gifts,” which may be worn to dinner or for a stroll. That said, the Vietnamese save on gifts for coworkers: no one gives colleagues Valentine’s Day gifts. It’s strictly a romantic holiday.
Explore the world with Rosetta Stone
We hope you’ve enjoyed our post about Valentine’s Day traditions around the world. If you’re a romantic and in love–either with a foreign culture or a person from another country–learning the language of that place can enrich your relationship.
Rosetta Stone has 25 languages to choose from, and each comes with bite-sized lessons, built-in pronunciation feedback, and a slew of fun learning tools. Plus, if you can’t decide on a language, Rosetta Stone Unlimited gives you lifetime access to learning in all 25.
Written by Rowena Galavitz
Rowena Galavitz is a Spanish translator, bilingual copy editor, and language and literature instructor with three master’s degrees who loves Spanish and all things Mexico.
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