Everything About Valentines Day

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14^th. Every year on that date, those who are in love take opportunity to show their love for their sweethearts. Many people also show gratitude and love for teachers, friends, parents, siblings or any other person who is special to them. The most popular Valentine's Day gifts exchanged between loved ones across the globe are cards, fresh flowers and chocolates.

Valentine Traditions Around The World

In Wales, many people celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen's Day) on January 25 instead of (or as well as) Valentine's Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.

 In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "Saint Valentin", and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries.

 In Spain Valentine's Day is known as "San Valentín" and is celebrated the same way as in the UK, although in Catalonia it is largely superseded by similar festivities of rose and/or book giving on La Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day).

In Portugal it is more commonly referred to as "Dia dos Namorados" (Lover's Day / Day of those that are in love with each other).

In Denmark and Norway, Valentine's Day is known as Valentinsdag. It is not celebrated to a large extent, but is largely imported from American culture, but some people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one.

In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag ("All Hearts' Day") and was launched in the 1960s by the flower industry's commercial interests, and due to the influence of American culture. It is not an official holiday, but its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only exceeded by those for Mother's Day.

In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones.

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots", so on February 14^th, plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first work in the vineyards and in the fields commences. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day.

In Romania, the traditional holiday for love  is Dragobete, which is celebrated on February 24^th. It is named after a character from Romanian folklore who was supposed to be the son of Baba Dochia. Part of his name is the word drag ("dear"), which can also be found in the word dragoste ("love"). In recent years, Romania has also started celebrating Valentine's Day, despite already having Dragobete as a traditional holiday.

In Lithuania and Latvia, it is common for people to put stickers on faces and clothing of a friend or a relative. The holiday was first celebrated after the two countries gained independence from Soviet Union in 1990.

In South Korea, similar to Japan, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14^th (White Day). On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14^th of February or March go to a Korean restaurant to eat black noodles and "mourn" their single life.

In China, the common situation is the man gives chocolate, flowers or both to the woman that he loves. The so-called "Chinese Valentine's Day" is the Qixi Festival, celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It commemorates a day on which a legendary cow herder and weaving maid are allowed to be together. Modern Valentine's Day is also celebrated on February 14^th.

In Japan, on the February 14, the women buy the men chocolate. If it is a platonic relationship or the man is a close relative the women buy a chocolate called “kiri-choco”. If the man is a boyfriend, husband or lover a different chocolate is bought, namely “hon-mei”. A month later on March 14 the men reciprocate the affection by buying any woman who remembered them on Valentine’s Day a white chocolate.  The day is called “White Day” because of the white chocolate.

In Taiwan the situation is the reverse of Japan's. Men give gifts to women in Valentine's Day, and women return them on White Day.

In the Philippines, Valentine's Day is called "Araw ng mga Puso" or "Hearts Day". It is usually marked by a steep increase in the prices of flowers.

In Egypt, Egyptians celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14^th , and the indigenous Eid el-Hob el-Masri (Egyptian Love Day) on November 4^th , to buy gifts and flowers for their love.

In Brazil they celebrate Dia dos Namorados which means “Day of the Enamoured” on June 12^th. They celebrate it a day before Saint Anthony’s Day. Saint Anthony was a marriage saint.

In the UK children make cards and write poems on them. However the cards are sent anonymously. They enthusiastically wait for the postman to deliver their cards. The grown-ups exchange cards and or gifts with their loved ones and close relatives. In an old custom the first young man or woman one encounters in the street or anywhere else became their Valentine for the day! In Norfolk, a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.

Strange Valentine’s Day Facts

Here’s some interesting things you might not know about Valentine’s Day…

• Teachers receive the most valentines, followed by kids, mothers, wives and sweethearts.
• The oldest surviving valentine dates from 1415. It is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.
• One billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.
• Hallmark produced its first valentine in 1913.
• More than 12 million pet owners buy gifts for their pets on Valentine's Day.
• Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in the late 1800's. More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day.
• 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
• The most fantastic gift of love is the Taj Mahal in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife.
• The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.
• In olden times some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on the Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.