Saturday 14th February is less than a week away and whether you’re planning to cuddle up with a loved one or a girls night in with some ice cream and Bridget Jones on replay, all around the world different traditions are taking place!
Wales
Beginning close to home, Wales celebrates St Dwynwen’s day, the equivalent to St.Valentine’s, patron saint of lovers. Falling on the 25th January, it is a relatively unknown tradition outside of the welsh borders. The story begins with Dwynwen who lived during the 5th century and fell in love with a prince called Maelon Dafodrill. Unfortunately, her father, had 24 daughters and had already arranged for her to be married to another.
Dwynwen was so upset she could not marry Maelon that she begged God to make her forget him. As Dwynwen slept that night, she was visited by an angel. Using a sweet potion, the angel erased all memory of Maelon and he was turned into a block of ice.
God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second that God would meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God’s service for the rest of her life.
As a testament to the true hopes and dreams of lovers, the traditional gift for many centuries is for senders to give a beautifully carved wooden welsh spoon to their love.
Denmark
Danish traditions encompass both love and laughter as they celebrate St.Valentine’s day. The lover’s card comes in the form of transparency, the picture of a lover handing his love, a gift is only illuminated when the card is held up to the light.
In regards to humour, the Danish people send laughable love notes called gaekkebrev, referred to as joking letters. Extending the day’s mysterious festivities, the sender signs his or her name in dots. If the receiver guesses their sender they receive a candy egg at Easter time. The Danes certainly know how to do Valentines, running the festival into Easter and a guaranteed Easter egg for some lucky girls!
France
Claiming its origins in France, it is said that Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote the very first Valentine’s card, signing his poem as “Your Valentine”. Whether or not the claims are true, we cannot deny Paris as the unofficial world capital adopting the title of the city of love.
A dishonoured old tradition in France used to be the custom of drawing for, called une loterie d’amour. Unmarried men and women would go into houses facing each other and start calling out from one window to another, pairing off with their chosen one. If the young man didn’t fancy his Valentine, he would desert her midday, leaving all the scorned young ladies to light a bonfire burning images of the young man and yelling out curses and abuse!
Malaysia
You don’t need to be a lady in love on Valentine’s in Malaysia! Returning to the days of fate before facebook and tinder, women will write their phone numbers on oranges before throwing them into the closest river! On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, they live in hope that the man of their dreams will pick one up and call them. Considered to be lucky, fruit vendors often sail down the rivers collecting up the oranges to resell them at market for some unlucky in love men to hopefully find a date! So get down to Tesco and chuck some satsumas in the River Exe if you’re feeling hopeful this Valentine’s ladies!
Brazil
Already holding carnivals in February and March, Lovers’ Day falls instead on the 12th June, in Brazil the day of lovers is named Dia dos Namorados. On the eve of the holiday, women will write down the various names of their crushes and fold up the pieces of paper and put them in a pile. The following day is Saint Anthony’s Day, which honors the patron saint of marriage. On this day, single women perform rituals called simpatias in hopes that St. Anthony will bring them a husband. They pick out a name on the following day, this being the suitor they will get a date with (tradition states marry, but that is moving a bit fast!). In other South American countries they practice Love and Friendship Day, Dia del amor y la amistad, which is a little like the practice of Secret Santa. Played in groups of friends or relatives, each person is assigned a random partner that they give a secret gift to. Alongside gift giving, there are music festivals and performances throughout the country. So in a win-win situation, no-one gets left waiting for a Valentine or having to throw an orange in the river, Malaysian style!
South Korea
South Korea thought Valentine’s day just wasn’t enough so they had to outdo us all and dedicate the 14th of every month to an aspect of love:
January- Diary Day/Candle Day
Blank Diaries are given as gifts among couples and friends allowing the receiver to record all birthdays and special occasions for the year to come. Some also celebrate this as Candle Day and give ornate and decorative candles.
February- Valentines
The one big difference to Valentine’s in South Korea is that the women give the gifts, men are completely off the hook!
March-White Day
The men are back to giving gifts, some taking the custom view that the value of the previous month’s received gift should be tripled! Gifts like chocolate, roses and sweets are traditionally given in the colour white.
April- Black Day
If you didn’t receive any gifts in February and March, this is the month for you. Singles eat a bean paste noodle dish called jjajangmyun and pine for a love interest. It doesn’t have to be too much of a pity fest, some singles congregate hoping to find another noodle-eating single in time for May 14th!
May- Yellow Day/ Rose Day
Continuing with the colour scheme, couples dress in yellow and give each other roses. Any unlucky noodle eaters from the previous month can hope to spice up their life enjoying a delicious meal of yellow curry!
June- Kiss Day
Many companies capitalize on this day, with sales in lipstick and breath mints! The names says it all, a chance to lock lips with a loved one or confess your feelings and hope for a new relationship!
July- Silver Day
The exchange of silver rings or promise rings and the discussion of future marriage plans by couples.
August- Green Day
A romantic walk is undertaken after the drinking of soju. Tasting similar to vodka, it is an alcohol traditionally derived from rice. Green Day is centred around the fact soju comes in a green bottle.
September- Photo/Music Day
Does what it says in the title, taking photos and enjoying being musically creative! Portrait studios and gimmick photo booths are popular, and it seems like everyone’s taking a reverse-facing camera shot. Noraebangs — singing (karaoke) rooms — are in high demand, as well.
October- Wine Day
For starters, I highly think this day should be a worldwide phenomenon, catch on Britain! Again, it’s civilized drinking for the couples, enjoying wine over a romantic dinner and drowning your sorrows if you’re still unlucky in love (how could you be after noodles and curry…).
November- Movie Day
Whether it’s going to the cinema or at home with a DVD, everyone is watching movies! Couples give each other DVDs and many frequent a DVD room or ‘DVD bang’, a popular Korean hangout.
December- Hug Day
Finishing off, South Korea wraps up the year with a good cuddle or squeeze! A popular activity is polling the most cuddle-worthy Korean celebrity!
China
After the mass of celebrating South Koreans undertake, we turn to China whose traditions are based in Chinese lore. The legend states that Zhinu, a heavenly king’s daughter, and Niulang, a poor cowherd, fell in love, married and had twins. When Zhinu’s father learned of their marriage, he sent his queen to bring Zhinu back to the stars. Upon hearing the cries of Niulang and their children, the king allowed Zhinu and Niulang to meet once a year on Qixi. On the Seventh Night Festival or Qixi, young women offer up melon and other fruits to Zhinu in hopes of finding a good husband. Couples head to temples in order to pray for prosperity and happiness. People turn to the sky at night, watching the stars Vega and Altair (Zhinu and Niulang) come close during the star-crossed pair’s annual reunion.
Japan
A little like South Korea, Japan splits Valentine’s day into February 14th and March 14th. In Feburary, the girls gives a gift to their man and in March the men returns the favour with a gift for his lady. Girls can the traditional chocolate ‘Giri Choco’, which have no romantic association, perfect for male friends, colleagues or even their boss! A sign of affection is the inclusion of a handmade gift plus the “Honmei Choco”. Men also give chocolates a month later on March 14th.
Argentina
Argentineans take a whole week to celebrate the occasion! In addition to February 14th they set aside the 13th to the 20th July for ‘sweetness week’. Exchanging kisses and confectionary, friends and lovers celebrate alike with the week culminating in ‘Friendship day’
Germany
On February 14th a very special gift is given in Germany, not quite in line with the usual commerciality of cards, flowers and chocolate! They celebrate by giving a pig! Representing luck and lust, it doesn’t have to be the real thing, it’s up to the sender’s creativity. Whether it’s in picture form, mini statues, or chocolate figurines, nothing is set in stone! They also prepare giant ginger cookies with romantic phrase such as “Ich liebe dich” (I love you) all baked in a lovely heart shape!