On Valentine's Day, people in Germany and the USA show their love by giving away flowers, chocolates or small candy hearts with nice messages. In other countries, however, there are strange Valentine's Day customs and superstitions that are fascinating. While chocolate determines relationships in a country, it marks the beginning of an agricultural season. Below we present you surprising but romantic traditions from around the world.
Valentine's Day customs in Denmark
In Denmark, lovers exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops instead of red roses. The men give the women “gaekkebrev”, a joking letter that contains funny rhymes or poems and is sent anonymously. The text is written on elaborately cut paper. If the lady guesses the sender correctly, she will receive an Easter egg for Easter.
In Slovenia
In Slovenia, February 14th is the first day for work in the fields. Saint Valentine is one of their patron saints for spring. This day is the ideal moment to start working in the fields and vineyards, as plants usually start to bloom again at this time. People believe that birds get married in the fields on this day.
The traditionin Italy
On Valentine's Day, young unmarried girls are supposed to wake up before dawn so they can see their future husbands. Presumably the first man the woman saw was the man she married in a year, or someone who looked very similar to him. That was the superstition. Nowadays, couples gather in the city of Romeo and Juliet Verona, where they write love letters or follow the steps of the two lovers.
Day ofLoversin Brazil
Brazilians skip February 14th and instead celebrate Dia dos Namorados, “Lover’s Day,” on June 12th. People exchange gifts with each other and music festivals and performances take place all over the country. Love is not just for couples, people also celebrate this day with friends and relatives.
The day ofLovein England
In England, women attach 5 bay leaves to their pillow, one on each corner and one in the middle, or moisten bay leaves with rose water and place over their pillow. Through this ritual you hope to dream about your future husband. In Norfolk, children wait impatiently for Jack Valentine to knock on the door and leave presents on the doorstep.
Valentine's Dayin Japan
The Japanese, for example, give each other different types of chocolate to express the nature of their relationship without words. A woman gives “giri-choko” gifts to men for whom she has no feelings, such as family members, work colleagues or friends.
With chocolateLoveshow
On the other hand, if you get the “favorite” variety, you want to show feelings to them. If someone receives homemade chocolates, they immediately know that they are a lucky person. On March 14, “White Day,” men return the favor and show their feelings by giving away lingerie, jewelry, clothing and chocolate.
Rituals forValentine's Dayin China
Valentine's Day in China is called Qixi, or the Seventh Night Festival, which is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of each year. On this day, women give melons or other fruits as an offering to Zhinu in the hope that she will find a good husband. Couples pray in temples for good luck and prosperity.
QixiFestival
At night, people look to the sky to see the stars Vega and Altait, or Zhinu and Niulang, come closer to each other and see each other again. Singles visit temples and pray for luck in love while couples hope for happiness and marriage.
initPhilippines
In the Philippines, mass weddings on Valentine's Day are very popular. Hundreds of couples gather at one place to get married in mass wedding ceremony. In 2013, more than 4,000 couples got married simultaneously across the country. This experience speaks to a communal and inclusive culture.
customsin South Africa
Women in South Africa have an unusual custom on February 14th and wear hearts on their sleeves on this day. You attach your lover's name to your sleeves, which is actually an ancient Roman tradition known as Lupercalia. This is how the men find out who the secret admirer is.
