Valentine’s Day is coming! 2022 was a wipe out on the gifting front, one’s sense of occasion overwhelmed by… oh yes, that thing…
We’re back gifting with a vengeance this year, or at least suggesting a couple of pairs of socks, to make up for previous years.
To get you in the mood, herewith some fascinating worldwide traditions that celebrate đź’–
Argentina: Feb 14 is seen as a warm up to their early July exchange of kisses and sweets at the “candy for a kiss” Sweetness Week.
Brazil: Dia dos Namorados festival, aka Lovers/Sweethearts Day, falls on June 12 and involves gifts, music, dancing and dinners. Women make simpatia offerings to Portuguese Saint Anthony, mixing petals, perfume and salt in water and pouring it over yourself, in a bid to meet Mr Right.
Bulgaria: Feb 14’s San Trifon Zartan (Saint Trifon is considered to be the guardian of the vineyards, and protector of all winemakers) is also“day of winemakers” – couples can celebrate aValentine’s and get on the wine.
China: August’s Qixi Festival, also known as the Double Seventh Festival, has celebrated Chinese mythology of a star-crossed couple since the Han Dynasty with defeats of steamed pears filled with Jujube dates and honey.
Czech Republic: May 1 sees young couples go on a pilgrimage to the statue of their poet of love, Karol Hynek Macha, in Prague to kiss under the cherry trees for good luck.
Denmark: pressed snowdrops go in gaekkebrev paper letters of poems or rhymes signed with dots, sometimes in intricate patterns. If the recipient guesses who an admirer is, they win an Easter egg.
England: women used to place five bay leaves on their pillows to show them their future husbands in dreams. Now, it’s all chocolates and over-priced roses, a custom that originates from the XVII century. In Norfolk, gifts are left at the front door on Valentine’s eve by the county’s fictional Jack Valentine.
Estonia: family and friends are celebrated on Feb 14 with an exchange gifts, poems, food at Ystävän Päivä.
France: the first known carte d’amitiĂ© was believed to have been sent in 1415 by the imprisoned Duke of Orleans to his wife from the Tower of London, following the Battle of Agincourt. Fast forward to now and adult French amours tend to celebrate elegantly, not commercially.
Germany: lovers gift large, frosted gingerbread or, pigs (small ornaments, pictures or chocolates) to represent luck and lust.
Ghana: Feb 14 is National Chocolate Day – and as one of the largest cocoa-producing countries in the world the nation goes all out with events and dinners.
Italy: Saint Valentine (San Valentino) was Italian! He lived near Rome in the 3rd century and died as a martyr on Feb 14. Some believe San Valentino was instituted to “Christianise” the pagan festivity of Lupercalia, a Roman festival that was all about goats, naked bodies and whips. Nowadays, romantic dinners and gifts of chocolate-covered hazelnuts wrapped in romantic quotes are the welcomed norm.
Japan: on Feb 14 women give different chocolates to males depending on their relationship status. Giri-choco “obligation chocolate” shows gratitude. Honmei-choco is hand delivered to true crushes. Jibun-choco is a gift you give to yourself, while Cho-giri choco is given to less popular of male colleagues. Men in turn give gifts on  on March 14.
Romania:  Feb 24 is a national celebration of Dragobete, the patron saint of love and cheerfulness, held a month before the Spring Equinox when birds began to build nests, trees would start blooming, and nature would come back to life. Symbolising their ongoing love, couples ventured into forests to pick colourful flowers to bring luck.
Philippines: thousands of non-LGBT only couples marry at an annual nationwide, Pag-ibig (government-funded, therefore, affordable), galas held in dozens of locations.
Slovenia: St Valentine is a patron saint of spring and on Feb 14 fulfilling the nation’s proverb: St Valentine brings the keys of roots, plants will start regenerating to mark the first day of working in the fields. However, Saint Gregory’s Day on March 12 is when lovers really celebrate.
South Africa: decorations of ancient symbols, hearts, birds and cupids start going up early in the month, with Feb 14 a day of chocolates, flowers, and candlelit dinners, as bolder amors wear the names of their loved ones on the sleeves – literally.
South Korea: this big-hearted nation celebrates a day of roses (May), kisses (June) and hugs (December). Even singletons have their own Black Day on April 14, dressing in black to eat noodles with a black bean sauce.
Spain: celebrations differ throughout the country, from Feb 14 street carnivals, the April 23 Barcelona El Dia de la Rosa / del Llibre (The Day of the Rose/Book), and October 9 in Valencia at the Day of Saint Dionysus (patron saint of lovers) where you’ll see macadora marzipan figurine symbols of love.
Taiwan: a country that really does say it with flowers. A gift of red roses means “you’re my one and only”. Ninety-nine roses say “I will love you forever”. While 108 pops the question.
Wales: Valentine’s Day is celebrated on January 25, the day of San Dwynwen which is entails dishing out handcrafted wooden spoons in memory of Dwynwen, a Welsh princess who fell in love with a young man named Maelon.