Valentine’s Day celebrated on February 14th, is recognized worldwide as a day of love and affection. While its origins trace back to ancient Rome, the way different cultures celebrate the day varies significantly. This piece takes a look at how the day is marked across the globe:
1. United States & Canada
In North America, Valentine’s Day is widely commercialized, with couples exchanging cards, chocolates, flowers, and gifts. Many people go out for romantic dinners, while schools often organize activities where children exchange Valentine’s Day cards.
2. United Kingdom
In the UK, the celebration follows a traditional route with gift exchanges, love letters, and romantic dinners. Red roses are the most popular flower, symbolizing deep love. It’s also common for people to send anonymous love messages.
3. France
Paris, known as the City of Love, makes Valentine’s Day particularly special. Couples exchange jewelry, perfumes, and romantic getaways. The village of Saint-Valentin in central France becomes a hub for lovers, where they take part in special wedding vow renewals and romantic events.
4. Italy
Italians traditionally celebrated Valentine’s Day as “La Festa degli Innamorati”, where lovers exchanged love poems and gifts. Today, romantic dinners and chocolate Baci Perugina (hazelnut-filled chocolates with love notes inside) are popular.
5. Japan
Japan has a unique twist on Valentine’s Day. On February 14th, women give chocolates to men, categorized as:
- Giri-choco (obligatory chocolates) – Given to colleagues or friends.
- Honmei-choco (true love chocolates) – Given to romantic partners.
One month later, on March 14th (White Day), men reciprocate by giving white chocolates, gifts, or jewelry.
6. South Korea
South Korea takes it a step further with three romantic days:
- February 14th – Women give chocolates to men.
- March 14th (White Day) – Men return the favor.
- April 14th (Black Day) – Those who didn’t receive gifts celebrate by eating jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) to mark their singleness.
7. China
Although Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day in August) is traditionally celebrated, many young Chinese couples now observe February 14th as well. Flowers, gifts, and fancy dinners are common, especially in urban areas.
8. Philippines
Valentine’s Day in the Philippines is known for mass weddings, where hundreds or even thousands of couples tie the knot in grand ceremonies, often sponsored by the government. It’s also a day filled with love letters and romantic gestures.
9. Brazil
Since Carnival falls in February, Brazil celebrates “Dia dos Namorados” (Lovers’ Day) on June 12th instead. The celebrations include romantic dates, gift exchanges, and festivals.
10. South Africa
In South Africa, it’s common for women to pin the name of their crush on their sleeves, a tradition rooted in Roman times. Many people go on romantic getaways, attend parties, or exchange flowers and chocolates.
11. Germany
Unlike other countries, Germans don’t focus much on flowers and chocolates. Instead, they exchange pig-themed gifts, as pigs symbolize luck and lust. Gingerbread cookies with sweet messages are also popular.
12. Finland & Estonia
Rather than celebrating romantic love, “Ystävänpäivä” (Friendship Day) in Finland and Estonia focuses on appreciating friends. People exchange cards, small gifts, and letters, and single people often go on “love bus rides” to find a partner.
13. Denmark & Norway
Valentine’s Day in these countries is relatively new, but men send “Gaekkebrev” (funny anonymous love poems) to women. If the woman correctly guesses the sender, she receives an Easter egg later in the year.
14. Saudi Arabia
While public celebrations of Valentine’s Day were once banned, attitudes are slowly changing, and many people celebrate in private with romantic dinners and gifts. Red roses and chocolates are now more commonly available.
15.Ghana
In Ghana, a West African nation, the Tourism Authority has declared it as “Chocolate Day” celebrated by gifting chocolate to loved ones as a means of boosting one of the nation’s major foreign exchange earners, the Cocoa Sector.
Even though the usual flowers, gifts, and love cards are still patronized as well as outings and parties, there has been an attempt to focus the celebration in a way to boost revenue for the country.
Valentine’s Day is more than just chocolates and roses—it reflects cultural traditions, unique customs, and varying expressions of love across the world. Whether it’s through poetry, chocolates, grand weddings, or friendship celebrations, love finds its way into every culture in its own beautiful way.
