Off-Beat-News
Top Ten Worldwide Celebrations of Valentine’s Day─── 14:00 Thu, 12 Feb 2015
Different strokes for different folks… Here’s how the world celebrates St. Valentine’s Day.
Different strokes for different folks… Here’s how the world celebrates St. Valentine’s Day.
The Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day is the “Qixi Festival” which means “The Night of Seven”. This is usually celebrated in early August on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Traditionally Valentine’s Day is not celebrated on 14 February as it falls close to the Chinese New Year, which usually occurs either in January or February.
The city of love is practically the world capital of Valentine's Day. Couples from around the world flock to celebrate Valentine’s Day here. The tradition of exchanging letters and cards originated in France.
Want to get married soon? Go to Italy! According to old tradition, the first man a girl sees on Valentine’s Day will
become her husband and would be married within a year. Italian couples celebrate this day by enjoying music and poetry as well as exchanging gifts.
It is Japanese tradition for girls to give “giri choco”. These are chocolates with no romantic undertones given to male friends and colleagues. Should girls wish to show romantic affection a handmade gift would be included. A month later on 14 March, males return the gift on what is called “White Day”.
Much like with the Japanese, Korean women give gifts on Valentine’s Day with men returning the favour on “White Day”. Korean women typically give gifts of chocolate, flowers and candies. Koreans also observe “Black Day” on 14 April for those unlucky in love. On this day, singles sit together sharing pity and eating black jajangmyeon noodles. The 14th of every month marks a love-related day in Korea.
6. Germany
Lovers in Germany not only exchange heart shaped gifts, chocolates and flowers but pigs too. The pig can be given in any form (statue, chocolate or picture) and symbolizes lust and luck. Germans have also been known to bake large heart shaped ginger cookies which contain romantic phrases and messages like “Ich liebe dich” (I love you).7. India
Valentine’s Day is known to clash with India’s conservative religious background however the day has become widely recognized in more recent years. Indians dress in their finest clothes on this day and show their loved ones affection. Hotels and restaurants are usually fully booked and post offices are filled with Valentine’s Day deliveries.
Romania’s equivalent of Valentine’s Day, Dragobete, is celebrated on 24 February. It is believed that those who participate in Dragobete festivities will be protected against sickness for a year. Romanians dress in their best
clothes and give gifts to their loved ones.
Tu B’Av is the Israeli equivalent of Valentine’s Day. This day usually falls on the 15th of the Jewish calendar month of Av. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for
them. Today, Tu B'Av is celebrated as a second holiday of love by secular people (beside Valentine's Day), and it shares many of the customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day in western societies such as gift giving.
Brazil’s famous carnival runs during February and March each year coinciding with Valentine’s Day. Their equivalent is celebrated on 12 June and called “Dia dos enamorados” or “Lover’s Day”. On this day performances are held throughout the city in addition to exchanging gifts.
