Valentine’s Day is upon us! The time where we express our love to our partners in a more special and intimate way. Flowers, candy, and gifts are all exchanged on this day all in the name of St. Valentine. However, certain countries don’t follow the traditional way of exchanging lovely gifts to their partner. Let’s have a look at how different countries celebrate their love.
This are the lover’s cards that is exchanged in Denmark
1.Denmark
Valentine’s Day is a relatively new holiday in Denmark but one unique tradition is the giving of “gaekkebrev” or joking letters. What happens in this day is men would write a funny poem or rhyme written on intricately cut paper and signed with only with anonymous dots. If a woman correctly guesses the sender, she will earn herself an Easter egg later that year
Chocolates that are handmade by the Japanese woman
2. Japan
The celebration of love truly ends on March 14, which is known as the “White Day”. This is the time where men can choose to return the favour by presenting chocolates to their partner. Gift shops all over Japan pile their shelves with chocolate a month before Valentine’s Day. Most Japanese females believe, however, that store-bought chocolate is not a gift of true love to their men. Hence, they tend to make the confection all by themselves.
The Welsh Love Spoons
3. Wales
People in Wales instead of celebrating the almighty Saint Valentine, they celebrate Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, on January 25th. As early as the 17th century, Welsh men would carve complicated wooden spoons designs as a traditional romantic gift. This is also given to the women they loved as a token of affection. Today, love spoons are also exchanged for celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries and births.
One of the many couples kissing after being tied the knot
4. Philippines
The Philippines loves to celebrate their festivals on a huge-scale and that’s never a bad thing. One tradition has swept the country which makes it’s a once in a lifetime event. Thousand of couples share the same wedding day and mass wedding ceremonies have gained popularity on this lovely day. They either get married on this day or renew their vows during church mass.
5. Brazil
The day of lovers, Dia dos Namarados, is celebrated on June 12th. Saint Anthony’s Day, the patron saint of marriage, is widely celebrated in Brazil. Typically, single women perform rituals, known as simpatias, in the hope that they’ll be the next to get married.