You know it's the season of love when February comes in. Television networks start to air everything about love, may it be a person's first kiss, first heartbreak, successful marriages, or even the most painful relationships. As you walk down the streets, you would probably see more hearts than you usually see on a regular basis. And this will go on for the rest of February.
Through giving cards, flowers, chocolates, or taking your loved ones on a date, making this day a very special one is important to many people. This is one of the events when we are able to show our love to our family, friends, or significant other. But do you ever wonder what it's like celebrating the season of love or Valentine's Day in a different country? Apparently, countries have different ways of celebrating this event. But first, let's take a look at how Valentine's Day started.
How Valentine's Day Started
You'll know that it's Valentine's Day when everyone starts to show affection to their loved ones by sending them flowers, cards, or chocolates with messages of love. The day gets its name from a popular saint, St. Valentine, but there are lots of mysteries of who this saint was and how he become associated with this ancient rite. An online article by the Real Simple stated that there's actually a mid-February holiday in the ancient Roman calendar that might have influenced the rise of Valentine's Day. This event is known as Lupercalia, which celebrates fertility and includes a ritual in which men and women were paired off by choosing names from a jar. This event is observed as a mid-winter celebration for the marriage of the god Zeus and the goddess Hera in ancient Greece.
Eventually, the Catholic Church turned this event into a Christian celebration and decided to pay tribute to St. Valentine, too. However, there are many theories regarding who the saint was and what his connection was to Valentine's Day. According to an article by History, there are at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus as recognized by the Catholic Church.
One legend suggests that Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century. It was believed that he defied the decree by Emperor Claudius II, prohibiting young men from marrying because he believed that single males were better soldiers than those who had wives and families. Valentine then continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. However, Claudius ordered his death when he found out what Valentine was doing.
Another suggests that Valentine sent the first 'valentine' greeting to a young girl he fell in love with when he was imprisoned. It was believed that he wrote her a letter signed 'From your Valentine' before he died. Although the identity of St. Valentine is yet to be determined, all stories suggest that he has a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly, romantic figure.
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The event's reputation was popularized in the Middle Ages, making Valentine one of the most popular saints in France and England.
How Different Nations Celebrate Valentine's Day
For most of us, celebrating Valentine's Day means giving or receiving flowers, chocolates, cards, or gifts. Stores would be filled with heart-shaped sweets, red roses, and boxes of chocolates. However, that's not the case in some countries. They celebrate Valentine's Day in different ways.
According to an article by VOA Learning English, Brazil celebrates Valentine's Day in a different month because they have huge carnival celebrations which overshadow the event. Every June 12, they observe what is known as Dia dos Namorados or Lovers' Day. During this event, the people celebrate the same way as Americans - giving gifts, flowers, and chocolates. However, they celebrate Saint Anthony instead of St. Valentine's.
In the Philippines, Valentine's Day is a big deal as large group weddings are organized. In fact, February 14 has become one of the country's most common wedding anniversaries. These events are supported by the local government, which even offers free wedding ceremonies.
On the other hand, Valentine's Day is a relatively new holiday in Denmark. According to an article by Life, one interesting thing about their celebration is that the people exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops instead of roses. During the event, men also give their partners a 'joking letter' or what they called 'gaekkebrew.' This consists of a funny poem or rhyme written on intricately cut paper and signed only with anonymous dots.
France has long celebrated Valentine's Day given it is of the most romantic destinations in the world. One of the traditional events during this day is the 'loterie d' amour' or 'drawing for love' where men and women fill up houses that face one another and then take turns calling out to one another and pairing off. If men aren't satisfied with their match, they can decide to leave the girl for another. Those females who are left unmatched after the event gather afterward for a bonfire. During the bonfire, the ladies have the chance to burn pictures of the men who wronged them. However, the French government eventually banned the event as it became uncontrollable.
Although many countries celebrate Valentine's Day in many different and unique ways, what's important is that they express and show their love for their loved ones.
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