Introduction
Here in America, Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14th. Many couples go out on romantic dates and give each other flowers and chocolates in celebration. Friends and families also spend this holiday together, celebrating their relationships and spend quality time with each other. However, other countries throughout the world have developed their own traditions to celebrate love.
1. China
Qixi Festival
Similar to America, Chinese couples exchange gifts and go on dates during a Valentine’s Day adjacent holiday called the Qixi Festival. This unique festival is based on an old love story between a celestial weaver girl and a mortal cowherd. As the tale goes, their love was forbidden and the two found themselves separated by a great river. The couple’s heartbroken tears combined to form a bridge that they used to meet once a year. Today, women will practice weaving and carve designs into melon skins for good luck from the woman in the story.
2. Czech Republic
Karol Hynek Macha
Celebrated on May 1 and similar to many other countries, the Czechs also exchange gifts, cards, and have romantic dinners. Young couples trek to the statue of an old Czech poet named Karol Hynek Macha that stands near a grove of cherry trees, under which lovers kiss for good luck. On a more gruesome note, it is said that if a girl is not kissed, she will wither and die in twelve months.
3. Denmark and Norway
Joke Letters
In these Scandinavian countries, friends and lovers alike will exchange cards. Some of which are traditional, nicely decorated notes. However, some men will write anonymous “joke letters” with a funny poem or rhyme written on them. If the recipient can guess the sender, she will get an Easter egg from him later in the year. In Norway, couples rely on experiences; admiring the beautiful landscapes around them in unique outdoor adventures.
4. Italy
Everlasting Love
In Italy, lovers will gift each other baci perugina; a box of hazelnut filled chocolates where each candy will have a love note inside written in five different languages. Couples will also attach padlocks to bridges and railings as a symbol of their everlasting love. If we go further back, one tradition states that the first man a single woman sees on Valentine’s Day will become her husband within the next year.
5. South Africa
Secret Admirers
In South Africa, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with flowers and gifts. Additionally, some women will pin a heart shaped piece of paper with the name of their love interest on the sleeve of their shirts, ensuring they no longer remain secret admirers. This is done in the hope that their crush will see the paper and reciprocate similar feelings. This is reminiscent of the old Roman festival, Lupercalia.
Credits:
Created with images by Cozine - "Abstract background border of Beautiful fresh sweet pink rose" • Aninka - "heart of yarn made with a paper plate. Kids craft on grey with copy space" • smiltena - "Blossoming cherry tree" • librakv - "Love letter and rose" • anetlanda - "Red love lock padlock on bridge outdoor" • khosrork - "Portrait of little girl in white T-shirt hiding face behind big red heart and looking at camera with curious prying eyes, feeling affection fondness. Indoor studio shot isolated on pink background."