Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World!

What comes to mind when you think of Valentine’s Day? Love, cards, flowers, and chocolate? These are common here in America, but have you ever received marzipan figures, welsh spoons, pig-shaped gifts, or invitations to mass marriages? Unique traditions such as these and different ways of showing affection are scattered worldwide.

Argentina:

Those in Argentina may be familiar with “Sweetness Week” in July because just one day isn’t enough for them to show their passion for someone else.

Armenia:

Before going to bed single men and women eat salted crackers and do not drink water. In their dream, their future soulmate brings them water, according to a belief. Mr. Keshishi, an Armenian teacher at Blake mentioned that couples pay tribute to old traditions, walk around cities, and spend time with each other.

Brazil:

Brazil’s weeklong Carnival celebration falls too close to February 14th, so their Valentine’s Day is celebrated in June instead. On “Dia dos enamorados” or “Lovers’ Day,” couples exchange gifts and single women commemorate Saint Anthony, the patron saint of marriage. 

China:

In China, people celebrate the Qixi Festival on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which comes from an ancient Chinese story. Some women weave or carve complex designs on the skins of melons for good health from Zhinu, a weaver in the story.

Colombia and Guatemala:

Colombian and Guatemalan Valentine’s Day is less romantic than others, where friends exchange gifts and senior citizens are celebrated at a vibrant parade.

Denmark and Norway:

People of these two Scandinavian countries celebrate by exchanging “Lovers’ Cards” with beautiful pressed snowdrop flowers. Along with traditional letters, some send “joke letters,” loosely translated from gaekkebrev, a word of Danish descent. The sender or secret admirer does not sign their name and instead leaves a clue for the recipient to guess.

Ghana:

Ghana’s National Chocolate Day falls on February 14th, so their Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate. Ghana is one of the world’s largest cocoa-producing countries and everything is chocolate-themed.

Germany:

Loved ones exchange pig-themed gifts for good luck. Some pigs are made with a lucky penny or four-leaf clover in their mouths for extra luck for the rest of the year.

Philippines:

The government of the Philippines sponsors mass weddings for thousands of couples at a time. This brings people together, supports couples who come from underprivileged backgrounds and celebrates love.

Slovenia:

St. Valentine in Slovenia is the patron saint of Spring, so beekeeping and health are celebrated. It indicates the first day of Spring and people begin to work again in vineyards and fields.

Spain:

Parades and festivals to celebrate the feast of St. Dionysus take place and men tend to give marzipan figures, or macadoras, to their companions to spread the love.

Taiwan:

Bouquets are exchanged, with the number, type, or color of flower revealing a message. For example, if someone receives 108 flowers, their partner is asking for marriage. 

Thailand:

Recently skydiving, bungee jumping, and hosting underwater weddings have become more popular for some exhilarating Valentine’s Day traditions.

Wales:

On January 25th, the Welsh celebrate the patron saint of lovers, St. Dwynwen. A traditional gift in Wales is carved wooden spoons, which dates back to a story of sailors who would give these spoons to their partners before returning home.

How many of these traditions were you familiar with? Which ones did you find the most interesting?

Valentine’s Day is not the same everywhere in the world but no matter whenever, wherever, or however it is celebrated, the meaning is about spreading love.