Did you know not everyone has the same Valentine’s Day traditions? Some countries even celebrate love on a completely different date than 14 February. 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.
Small Valentine’s Day gifts like cards or candies to friends and family are common around the world. Chocolate and flowers, including the ever-iconic red roses, are popular with couples who may choose to go out for a romantic dinner. But there’s more to this day in other parts of the world. Discover how the world celebrates Valentine’s day traditions around the world.
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Valentine’s Day traditions in Europe
From an entire village dedicated to love to the exchange of pig-themed gifts, anonymous love letters, and heart-shaped cookies, the Valentine’s Day traditions in Europe are varied and range from the fully-invested to those who give a gentle nod to the occasion.
1. France: Le village des amoureux
The French have a reputation for being romantic, so it may come as no surprise to discover there’s a village for lovers in the Indre region called Saint-Valentin (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 special love-related events. There’s the Tree of Eternal Hearts for couples to propose marriage or renew their vows under and the Tree of Vows for couples to hang an engraved heart with their names on to express their commitment. Couples can even plant a tree in the Jardín des Amoureux (Lovers’ Garden) as a symbol of their thriving relationship.
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. Nowadays, about half of Germans celebrate Valentine’s Day much like we do in the US—with chocolates, gifts, flowers—with one big exception: pigs. Pigs represent love and even lust, and are given as gifts in various forms on this day.
Perhaps the most beautiful tradition for Valentine’s Day in Germany are lebkuchenhertz. These heart-shaped cookies are made of gingerbread and decorated with frosting, including messages of love. Hanging from colorful ribbons, the large cookies are also featured on Oktoberfest and at Christmas.
3. Greece: Honoring St. Hyacinth
Valentine’s Day traditions became somewhat popular in Greece in the 1970s and many choose to hold their weddings on this day. The Greek Orthodox Church, however, doesn’t 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 attuned to the origins of February 14 may visit Saint Valentine’s shrine in Dublin.
5. Italy: La Festa Degli Innamorati
La Festa Degli Innamorati (The Festival of Those in Love) is a time for couples to stroll through the streets or parks, 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.
Did you know that the origins of Valentine’s Day are connected to the Roman Catholic church located in what is today Italy? You might be surprised by some other Valentine’s Day facts!
6. The Netherlands: Valentijnsdag
Valentine’s Day—called Valentijnsdag in Dutch—isn’t very 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 (the Netherlands is a big flower producer).
The lack of interest in Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean the Dutch aren’t romantic. On the contrary, Amsterdam is often considered one of the most romantic cities in the world!
7. Poland: Heart-shaped cookies and Chełmno, 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.If you want to express your commitment to someone in Poland, you can buy them a nice ciastka w kształcie serca (heart-shaped cookie) instead.
People in Poland also visit Chełmno, 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 wasn’t celebrated in Russia until the 1990s. The day is particularly popular with teens and young adults, however, Russia is a place where both children and adults celebrate their friendship or love on this day.
People often give each other flowers, but they may also give chocolates, toys, balloons, or heart-shaped cards.
9. Spain: La Festa de Sant Jordi
Spain isn’t 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, St. Dionysius Day is celebrated 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 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, and people give either item as a gift. The streets of Barcelona are full of book sellers and the sweet smell of roses. Some buildings are even adorned with the iconic flower of love!
10. Sweden: Kärleksmums
Valentine’s Day traditions and celebrations in Sweden 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
Evidence exists that people of medieval Great Britain recognized February 14 as a day for lovers, possibly influenced by the work of Geoffrey Chaucer. Mid-February also coincided with the mating season for birds, which were later featured on Valentine’s Day cards.
Shakespeare, who lived in the first half of the 17th century, mentions the day in his play Hamlet. Toward the end of the century, folks would have a sweethearts lottery where they’d draw names to form couples and woo each other with small gifts.
Most people in the modern UK prefer to spend time together at home, although some go out to eat for February 14. Greeting cards, chocolates, and flowers are especially popular as gifts, but some buy clothes, jewelry, or perfume for their loved one.
Like the Irish, people in the UK may not sign their cards to give their declarations of love a mysterious flair. The Welsh celebrate love on January 25, the feast day of St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers.
How Latin America does Valentine’s Day
If you’re in Latin America over Valentine’s Day, you may need to adjust your celebrations to include platonic love on this day or you may realize Valentine’s Day is celebrated on a completely different day.
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.
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’re 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 Valentine’s cards for their classmates or parents.
Celebrating love in the Middle East
In the Middle East, many countries have a special day for love all of their own, celebrated on different dates. In others, people are going against the system to show their love on Valentine’s Day.
14. Egypt: Eid al Hob al Masry
Egypt has two days for celebrating love: February 14, the day for couples when you’ll see a lot of pink and red along with roses and stuffed animals, and November 4, a day to celebrate love in a wider sense. This day is not just for friends and family but also for neighbors, spiritual matters, and your home country. Even life is honored on this day.
Journalist Mustafa Amin got the idea for Eid al Hob al Masry (Egyptian 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.
15. Iran
Valentine’s Day in Iran has only become popular in the last couple of decades. However, 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.
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 in the summer: Tu B’Av, when marriages or marriage planning may happen along with prayers and Torah study.
17. Turkey: Sevgililer Günü
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. However, only about a third of the population celebrates it and Valentine’s Day traditions have only become popular in Turkey in the last few decades.
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.
New and old Valentine’s Day traditions in Asia
A festival celebrating epic love, “white” days where everyone gets a gift, and a “black” day where singles get to celebrate or lament their relationship status is what you can expect in 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.
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” in an attempt to promote Hindu values. 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 give 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.
21. Korea: Black Day
In South Korea, every 14th of the month is a reason to celebrate love. These 12 “love days” each have 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).
As opposed to western tradition, in South Korea, women buy flowers and chocolate for the men in their lives. But even the chronically single get their day. April 14 is Black Day, when single friends and family 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 aren’t a private affair! Rather, mass weddings are held when everyone gets married all at once.
The government supports these mass marriages for couples who’ve 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 traditions 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 handmade, 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 and friends: it’s strictly a romantic holiday.
Fall in love with language learning
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Whatever your motive, Rosetta Stone can help you learn your very own love language with engaging, immersive language lessons that prepare you for real-world conversations, big and small.
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