Valentine’s Day in the U.S. is often recognized with the tradition of gift giving — whether it be a bouquet of roses, a card, chocolates or other sweets, celebrations differ a lot around the world. Countries worldwide have their own unique spin on Valentine’s Day celebrations, many of which could inspire you on how to celebrate with your loved ones the next time the holiday rolls around.
Valentine’s Day originated from the martyrdom of a saint named Valentine. It is celebrated for his act of performing secret weddings against the Roman emperor, Claudius’, wishes. In Slovenia, the first day of spring has been recently getting recognition for celebrating Valentine’s Day because of its association with St. Valentine, a patron saint of spring and good health. In Ireland, many couples travel to Dublin to visit the Shrine of St. Valentine — these traditions are deeply rooted in the history of Valentine’s Day.
Many countries celebrate a version of Valentine’s Day that isn’t on Feb. 14. In Argentina, there is a week in July set aside as “Sweetness Week,” where people exchange cards, stuffed animals and candies. In Brazil, celebrations take place on June 12, with the day called “Dia dos Namorados,” or “Lovers’ Day” where gift exchanges happen.
Flowers are a common gift given on Valentine’s Day, but in some places, there is more to just a simple bouquet. To celebrate both Valentine’s Day and the coming of spring, young people in Romania will pick wildflowers together and wash their faces with snow in preparation for spring. In Taiwan, huge bouquets are given with different meanings depending on the number and color of the flowers; it’s common for people to propose by giving a bouquet with 108 flowers.
Similar to the U.S., candy and chocolate giving is a huge part of Valentine’s Day around the world. In Ghana, Feb. 14 is also National Chocolate Day. This day began in 2007, as Ghana is one of the world’s largest producers of cocoa. A popular tradition in Italy is to give chocolates called “Baci Perugina,” which have a hazelnut or cherry center that is wrapped with poetic love letters.
Gift-giving isn’t the only way people express love on Valentine’s Day. . In places like Thailand, couples celebrate by going out and doing activities such as bungee jumping or skydiving. In the Philippines, the government will sponsor mass Valentine’s Day weddings for hundreds of couples at the same time.
If you know someone who isn’t a fan of all the heart decor that takes place during Valentine’s Day, you could always give them some pig decor as they do in Germany. The pig is a symbol of both love and lust, so many will gift pig statues and stuffed animals.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic couples, but it is recognized as a day of appreciation for friends and family. In Guatemala, “El Día del Amor y la Amistad,” or “The Day of Love and Friendship” is celebrated. This involves an anonymous exchange of gifts and a parade for senior citizens. The Day of Love and Friendship is also extended out to other Latin American countries like Colombia and Mexico, where recognizing platonic relationships is just as important as romantic ones.
“Ystävänpäivä” or “Friend’s Day” is a similar holiday that is recognized in Finland on Feb. 14. People celebrate by giving friends and loved ones small presents to show the value of friendship.
Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with a partner, family, or friends, it is always important to recognize and appreciate the relationships in your life. Valentine’s Day may be a singular day, but it is a great reminder to express your love for those in your life all other 364 days of the year.
