Valentine's Day traditions in Japan
In Japan, Valentine's Day is a day for women to express their love and affection by giving gifts to the men in their lives. This tradition began in the 1950s when a Japanese chocolate company started promoting the idea of giving chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. Today, it has become a major commercial event, and women buy chocolates for their male colleagues, friends, and romantic partners.
There are two types of chocolates that women can give on Valentine's Day in Japan: "giri-choco" and "honmei-choco." Giri-choco, which means "obligation chocolate," is given to male friends and colleagues as a gesture of friendship. On the other hand, honmei-choco, which means "true feeling chocolate," is given to romantic partners as a symbol of love and commitment. Women often spend a lot of time and money on honmei-choco, and they may even make it themselves.
Interestingly, there is also a White Day tradition in Japan, which takes place on March 14th. On this day, men are expected to return the favor by giving gifts to the women who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. The gifts are usually white-colored and can be anything from chocolates to jewelry.
Valentine's Day traditions in South Korea
In South Korea, Valentine's Day is celebrated in a similar way to Japan, but with a twist. On February 14th, women give chocolates to the men in their lives, just like in Japan. However, there is also a tradition called "Black Day" on April 14th, which is for single people who did not receive any gifts on Valentine's Day or White Day.
On Black Day, single people gather together to eat a dish called "jajangmyeon," which is a type of black noodle dish made with black bean sauce. The idea behind this tradition is to turn the negative feeling of being single into a positive experience of being part of a community. This tradition has become so popular that some restaurants even offer discounts on jajangmyeon on Black Day.
Valentine's Day traditions in Italy
In Italy, Valentine's Day is known as "La Festa Degli Innamorati," which means "the festival of lovers." This day is celebrated with romantic dinners, flowers, and gifts between couples. However, there is also a tradition that dates back to ancient Rome called "Baci Perugina."
Baci Perugina are small, individually wrapped chocolates that contain a love note in four languages: Italian, English, French, and German. The love notes are often poetic and romantic, and they add a special touch to the chocolate. Baci Perugina are a popular Valentine's Day gift in Italy, and they are also sold in other countries around the world.
Valentine's Day traditions in France
France is known as the "city of love," so it's no surprise that Valentine's Day is a major celebration in this country. Couples exchange gifts, flowers, and cards, and romantic dinners are a popular way to celebrate. However, there is also a tradition in France called "une loterie d'amour," which means "drawing for love."
In this tradition, single people gather together in a public place and call out to each other until they find a match. If a man doesn't like the woman who chooses him, he can reject her and choose another partner. At the end of the event, any unpaired women would light a bonfire and burn pictures of the men who rejected them, shouting curses and insults.
This tradition was eventually banned in the 19th century because it was seen as too rowdy and disorderly. Today, lovers in France prefer to celebrate Valentine's Day with a romantic dinner and a glass of champagne.
How do People Celebrate Valentine's Day in France?
Valentine's Day traditions in Brazil
In Brazil, Valentine's Day is celebrated on June 12th, which is the eve of St. Anthony's Day. St. Anthony is known as the "matchmaker saint," and he is believed to help couples find love. On this day, couples exchange gifts, flowers, and cards, and romantic dinners are a popular way to celebrate.
In addition to this, there is also a tradition in Brazil called "Dia dos Namorados," which means "Lovers' Day." On this day, couples exchange gifts and go out to celebrate their love. However, this day is also a popular time for single people to celebrate their independence and have fun with their friends.
Valentine's Day traditions in Denmark
In Denmark, Valentine's Day is not just for couples, but for friends and family as well. This day is called "Valentinsdag," and it is celebrated with the exchange of cards, flowers, and small gifts. However, there is also a unique tradition in Denmark called "Gaekkebrev."
Gaekkebrev is a type of anonymous love letter that is sent to someone on Valentine's Day. The letter is signed with a series of dots, one for each letter in the sender's name. The recipient must then guess the sender's identity, and if they guess correctly, they receive an Easter egg as a reward. If they guess incorrectly, they must give the sender an Easter egg instead.
This tradition dates back to the 17th century, and it is still popular in Denmark today. In fact, some people even make their own Gaekkebrev and send them to their loved ones.
Valentine's Day traditions in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Valentine's Day is a popular day for weddings. Many couples choose to tie the knot on this day, and wedding venues are often fully booked months in advance. In addition to this, there is also a tradition called "Harana," which means "serenade."
In this tradition, a man will visit the home of his beloved and sing a love song to her. If she likes him, she will invite him inside and serve him food and drink. If she doesn't like him, she will ignore him or ask him to leave. This tradition is not as common as it used to be, but it is still practiced in some parts of the Philippines.
