by Gabrielle Alli
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| source: GettyImages |
A Worldwide Celebration
It’s that time of year again: red and pink balloons, flowers selling out, and slightly overpriced chocolates. Who doesn’t love Valentine’s Day? Originally a day used to commemorate St. Valentine, whom we know little about, February 14th has been transformed into an occasion for love of all kinds.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide, but not necessarily in the same way (or even at the same time!) everywhere. Spanning countries and cultures, everyone has different traditions associated with special days of love.
France
Often renowned for its romantic aesthetics and reputation as “the city of love”, France has historical connections to Valentine’s, although unclear. Some sources point to the old French belief that birds pair off and mate off in the middle of February, inspiring an observant few to begin celebrating the holiday for their own love. Cartes d’amitiés, now known as Valentine’s Day cards, are thought to be connected to the Frenchman Duke of Orléans. He wrote the first ones, love letters to his wife, while imprisoned in London in 1415.
An outdated French tradition for this holiday was une loterie d’amour, where singles would be paired off and placed in homes opposite each other, often leading to frustration on both ends in an unsuccessful match. In modern times, this holiday continues to be a day focused on romantic love. Many restaurants, theaters, and museums have special menu and program changes for the occasion. While native French couples are celebrating, many travelers also flock here to renew vows or have a romantic getaway.
South Korea
In South Korea, as well as other East Asian countries, February 14th begins a celebration that carries into future months. It is solely focused on couples or those in romantic pursuit. Traditionally, women will give chocolates to the men they admire starting in February. Men and women may both carry this out as of recent years. Huge displays of chocolates sit in convenience store windows, waiting to be used for the celebration.
Exactly a month later, on March 14th, “White Day” is celebrated. This tradition first started in Japan but has become popular in South Korea. Men are expected to reciprocate the gifts they received from their female counterparts, usually something white-colored, where the holiday gets its name from. Some examples include white roses, white chocolate, and other candies. Nowadays, these gifts are often no longer white, as many opt for dark chocolate or other kinds of flowers.
And two months after the original day of love, “Black Day” is the designated day for those without romantic partners, celebrated on April 14th. Although not widely celebrated, singles who did not receive gifts on either day the month prior may eat a black-bean paste noodle dish called jjajangmyeon. With warming weather, others choose to spend the day having fun with friends and celebrating independence.
Germany
Celebrants in this country are only adults, but typical Valentine’s Day gestures are similar to those of the US. Giving chocolates, cards, and flowers are fairly common traditions for Valentinstag, the German word for the holiday. However, there is a different kind of “mascot” associated with the 14th for Germans. Symbols of pigs on various gifts can symbolize luck and love simultaneously. These pigs can be found holding four leaf clovers on cards or as sweet marzipan desserts.
Another unique aspect of Valentinstag is lebkuchen. Many shops sell these large gingerbread cookies for gift-givers. These cookies are usually decorated with frosting and have some kind of sweet message on them. They are also sold at different points in the year for other festivities, but the heart-shaped ones are most ubiquitous at this time.
South Africa
The origins of Valentine’s Day in other parts of the world are attributed to the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia. Within this festival was a matchmaking lottery where the names of single women were put into a jar and drawn by unmarried men to create a match. It is thought that this is where Shakespeare’s phrase, “wearing your heart on your sleeve,” came from, despite the connection being unclear.
This practice carried over to modern day South Africa. Women and young girls will pin the name of the one they admire on their shirtsleeves. Many times, this is how men discover their secret admirers. The tradition still carries the same name as the ancient festival, despite differing from the original in many ways.
Wales
Although many Welsh residents are now more familiar with the American celebration of Valentine’s Day, others opt for the more traditional St. Dwynwen’s Day, celebrated on January 25th. St. Dwynwen is the patron saint of lovers who had found herself in a star-crossed love. She had fallen in love with a young man called Maelon but was forced away from him by an arranged marriage.
Heartbroken and angry at her father’s decision to arrange a marriage, she wished to lose her memory. She’d come to regret this when it resulted in Maelon being frozen into a block of ice in his sleep. In exchange for returning his life, St. Dwynwen promised God a life of service. The convent she founded is now a place where lovers can examine sacred eels who will predict the outcome of their relationship.
The holiday is also marked by the giving of “love spoons.” The tradition is thought to have been started by a Welsh sailor who carved an intricate spoon for his lover back on land. Different images carved onto the spoon communicate the giver’s intentions. Love spoons are still sold around this time in certain spots of Wales.
And the Day Comes to an End
Many countries have made Valentine’s Day their own, with unique customs and traditions that often blend their native culture with the holiday. While the symbols and time frame to celebrate may vary, the wholesome intention to communicate love stays the same. The flood of reds and pinks on this special day puts a smile on anyone’s face.
This day can be dreadful for some, but don’t forget—the chocolates go on sale starting the 15th.