{"id":12759,"date":"2020-01-15T13:00:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/?p=12759"},"modified":"2024-11-11T11:44:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T11:44:54","slug":"valentine-day-traditions-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/valentine-day-traditions-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Valentine Day Traditions Around The World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ti amo<\/em>, je t\u2019aime<\/em>, te quiero<\/em>, ngiyakuthanda<\/em> (\u201cI love you\u201d in Zulu apparently!), there are countless ways of saying the L-word and showing you care. Valentine day is said to have started all the way back in 496 and Cupid has been firing his arrows all around the world ever since \u2013 that\u2019s one old flying baby!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Valentine Day story goes that it all began with a marriage ban in Rome and one saint who took it upon himself to conduct illicit ceremonies behind the emperor\u2019s back. That saint was Saint Valentine, of course. Long story short: found guilty and sentenced to death his last action was to write a letter to his sweetheart, signed off \u201cfrom your Valentine\u201d. And this is how the valentine card was born.<\/p>\n

While not many people know the provenance, we all know the day. If you\u2019re happily coupled, you\u2019re probably thinking about how you\u2019ll celebrate\u2026or if you\u2019re single (like me), you\u2019ve probably set a diary reminder for February 14th<\/sup> not to go out for dinner, to the cinema or arrange any awkward first dates!<\/p>\n

Looking to do something special this Valentine Day? Why not take inspiration from how the rest of the world is marking the occasion:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Japan<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n

\"Japanese-lady-holding-a-box-of-chocolates-part-of-Valentines-day-traditions\"<\/p>\n

In Japan, traditional gender stereotypes are reversed, and it is the woman that goes a-wooing. And the key to every man\u2019s heart? His belly, of course. Over half the chocolate sold in Japan is bought in the lead up to Valentine\u2019s Day. The festival is all-inclusive, and chocolate is given not just to lovers but also friends, neighbours, friends\u2019 neighbours, neighbours\u2019 friends\u2019 neighbours and even bosses \u2013 these tokens are called obligation chocolates or jajangmyeon<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Denmark<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s ill-advised to play games when it comes to romance, but Valentines Day in Denmark is the exception. Cupid and the Easter Bunny mastermind this game: guess your secret admirer correctly to be gifted a chocolate egg, guess wrong and it\u2019s you that\u2019s owing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wales<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Wooden-love-spoons-handed-out-between-couples-on-a-Valentine-Day-tradition\"<\/p>\n

What could be a more fitting token to give your spooning partner, than precisely that! In January, the Welsh mark Saint Dwynwen Day (the Welsh equivalent of Valentine) by gifting their other half a carved wooden spoon. Nothing says romance like\u2026cutlery?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taiwan<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You won\u2019t get away with giving a last-minute petrol-station bouquet in Taiwan where Valentine\u2019s Day is all about the flowers, especially red roses. The number of stems is crucial too: 1 symbolises \u201can only love\u201d, 99 is \u201cforever\u201d and 108 is \u201cMarry Me\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

South Korea<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Young-couple-cuddling-a-valentines-day-tradition-in-South-Korea\"<\/p>\n

When it comes to Valentines, South Koreans go all out, all year long. Celebrating Valentines Day is not just in February but in every other month of the year too \u2013 June\u2019s Kiss Day and December\u2019s Hug Day to name only two. We\u2019re talking cutesy cards, chocolate boxes, the full shebang\u2026can you imagine how many huge (-ly<\/em> impractical) teddy bears a single couple could accumulate in just one year?!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n

With an oink oink here and an oink oink there, Valentine\u2019s Day in Germany is awash with pigs. Yep, you read it right \u2013 Germans hold the mucky farmyard animal as a symbol of luck and lust! I have never considered a pig to be an aphrodisiac before, but hey, if piggy is made of gingerbread, I have no complaints.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Philippines<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Newly-married-couple-dancing-on-the-beach-valentine-day-traditions\"<\/p>\n

\u2018Cause if you like it then you should have put a ring on it!\u00a0 Valentine\u2019s Day has become the most popular day for weddings in the Filipino calendar. So, if you fancy a mass wedding (although not in the polygamous sense) get booking your flights for February.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

South Africa<\/strong><\/h4>\n

On Valentine\u2019s Day, the South Africans wear their heart on their sleeve, literally. Here it\u2019s tradition to pin your crush\u2019s name on a heart to your sleeve for the day. Cue the collective \u201caww\u201d<\/em>!<\/p>\n

There we are! Valentine day traditions to get your mind racing with new ideas! Have you got a Valentines day tradition you can share with us? Get in touch and tell us how the love flows in your country!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How the rest of the world says \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":12765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,903,60],"tags":[126,440,528,1439,1440],"yoast_head":"\nValentine Day Traditions Around The World - Last one will Amaze You!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"All set for Valentine Day ? Wherever you are there will be celebrations for loved up couples. What are the traditions, how do they differ? 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