7 Valentine's Day Traditions from around the World ...

By Chelsie

7 Valentine's Day Traditions from around the World ...

Growing up, I had many Valentine’s Day traditions, most of which took place at school. Like most little kids I exchanged homemade Valentine’s with my classmates. Occasionally there were store bought ones, but I really liked using glitter! We also would bring in candy and chocolates, and would become wired on sugar. Now that I am an adult, Valentine’s Day is a much calmer occasion, but I do still like to participate in some Valentine’s Day traditions, including flowers, chocolates, and dinner. While these are traditions in America, what intrigues me is that different countries around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day in very different ways, some of which sound fun.

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1

Japan

Interestingly, the Valentine’s Day traditions in Japan are not that different from those in America. However, there is one key difference. Instead of men giving gifts to women, women give gifts to men, usually chocolates. This tradition first became popular in 1936 when an English ad for chocolates ran in Japan targeting foreigners. The ad was so successful that the Japanese began giving chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Now, Japanese women give chocolates for Valentine’s gifts, and different types of chocolates signify different relationships. There are chocolates for working relationships, romantic relationships, and friendships. Certainly, this leads to less confusion about the intention of the Valentine!

2

Denmark

Valentine’s Day, or Valentinsdag, only recently became popular in Denmark. Yet despite its relative newness in being celebrated, the people of Denmark have developed a very fun tradition. Gaekkebrev is the Valentine’s tradition where men give anonymous funny poems or rhymes to women. They provide a few clues, and if the woman guesses the sender correctly, she wins an Easter egg on Easter. If she does not guess correctly, she has to give an Easter egg to the sender. I really like this tradition because of how fun it sounds. In fact, I wouldn’t mind living in Denmark so that I could participate in this tradition.

UPD:

This playful Danish twist on Valentine's Day is reflective of a broader cultural fondness for humor and light-heartedness. The Gaekkebrev (joke letters) tradition adds an element of suspense and mystery to the romantic festivities. It's a charming way to engage with one another and the anticipation of unraveling the secret admirer intensifies the thrill. I find that it not only enlivens the holiday but also strengthens bonds with a delightful exchange that stretches from Valentinsdag to Easter. Who knew love could be both romantic and playfully competitive?

3

Slovenia

In Slovenia, February 14 is the first day for working in the fields, and Valentine’s Day is an agricultural celebration. This is in part because St. Valentine, or Zdravko, is the patron saint of spring and brings the keys to the roots. Keeping with the agricultural theme, there is also a myth that the birds propose to their loved ones on this day. I think that it is very sweet that there is a Valentine’s myth that includes animals. Although Valentine’s Day is an agricultural celebration in Slovenia, there is a day to celebrate love. March 12 is St. Gregory’s Day, and this is when love is celebrated by Slovenians.

4

Finland

The Finish Valentine’s Day tradition of celebrating friendship is probably my favorite. In Finland, Valentine’s Day is also known as friends’ day. On this day gifts are exchanged among friends. In many ways, this reminds me of celebrating Valentine’s Day as a child and bringing cards for my classmates. Celebrating friendship certainly takes the pressure off of finding a date for Valentine’s Day, making it a much more relaxed day. Interestingly, many people do get married or engaged on February 14, despite the fact that it is a day for friendship.

5

Wales

Although my grandpa grew up in Wales, he never told me about St. Dwynwen’s Day, the Welch equivalent to Valentine’s Day. January 25 is St. Dwynwen’s Day, and it is the day that people in Wales celebrate love. Dating back to the seventeenth century, young men would give hand carved spoons that had romantic symbols to the women they were pining for. There is actually a “love spoon” from 1667 that is on display at the Welch Folk Museum in Cardiff. I suspect this has become an historical tradition that is no longer practiced, which is perhaps why I was never told about it.

Famous Quotes

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Niccolò Machiavelli
6

Great Britain

There are several historical Valentine’s traditions that were practiced in Great Britain many years ago and show the superstitious side of Valentine’s Day. One such tradition is the practice of pinning four bay leaves to the corners of a pillow on the night before Valentine’s Day. Women would do this in the hopes that they would dream about their future husband. Similarly, women would write the names of their various lovers on pieces of paper and put them on clay balls. They would then drop the clay balls into a glass of water, and the name that floated to the top first would be their future husband. To me, this seems like a lot of trouble to go to for a glimpse of a future husband. Other women must agree with me, because most of the traditions like this are no longer practiced.

7

France

In France there is a legal ban on the old Valentine’s tradition of “drawing for love.” In this tradition, single men and women would gather together and the men would choose the women they wanted to be paired off with. The women who did not get chosen would get together and have a bonfire where they would burn pictures and objects of the men who rejected them. Eventually, the tradition was banned because the women would become very rowdy. However, even though it is banned in France, this tradition lives on in a certain Friends episode in which Rachel, Phoebe, and Monica had a similar bonfire that got out of hand.

Valentine’s Day is a day that has many different traditions. I have fond memories of my childhood traditions for February 14, and I enjoy the new traditions that I take part in now that I am an adult. Learning about the traditions that are practiced around the world has certainly given me some ideas for some new Valentine’s traditions I might like to incorporate into my life. What are your Valentine’s Day traditions?

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we have a beautiful tradition in Armenia. our valentine's day is called St. Sargis day. the night before all the unmarried men and wimen eat very very salty cookies before sleep. and you can't drink water after eating it, so you get very thirsty. and if yoy see someone who gives you water in your dream, then that's the person you are going to marry :)

I love the one in Finland that is nice

i'm from Slovenia and though the March 12 is the they of love, Valentine's day is mostly celebrated by couples, we buy each other gifts like teddybear and chocolate :) i haven't heard for agriculture day in Slovenia acctually and that made me think :)

I come from Denmark.... And The tradition og sending gækkebreve is something you do around Easter! Not for Valentins dag!

In Japan March 14 is the day boys/men give presents to the girls. It's called white day.

You'll find lovespoons are still a popular gift to give a loved one in Wales. I always give one to a bride instead of a tacky horshoe

LOL, I'm from Denmark & the Gækkebrev & Valentine's day does not have anything to do with each other.. The Gækkebrev is a thing we do around easter.. :p

Think all countries should have something to do with Valentines even if just friendship. The country I currently live in Egypt has nothing and it's depressing. Sometimes you think if they had something at least people in the country would have something to look forward too And be happier than now.

Im danish as well. Gækkebrev and valentines day is two very different things

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