In America, the custom of giving gifts and cards on Valentine's Day is very popular. From children to adults, siblings to lovers, everyone exchanges gifts and wishes of love on Valentine's Day. Apart from gifts, it is even common to have Valentine's Day parties. These parties generally see a lot of dancing and singing. Romantic dinners, picnics and get-togethers are also common on Valentine's Day in the United States of America. In England, special Valentine's Day songs are sung by kids and they receive gifts of chocolates, fruits or sometimes even cash gifts.
In some parts of England, folks make buns with dry fruits like raisins on Valentine's Day. It is also a popular custom in England to write love poems. These poems are written to honor the patron of love, St. Valentine. Tabloids and magazines overflow with love verses on Valentine's Day in England.
Italians have a custom of getting engaged on Valentine's Day. Some women in Italy also believe that the first man they see on Valentine's Day will be their future husband and so they stand near the window on Valentine's Day morning to see their life-partner walk past in all glory. These apart, on Valentine's Day, shops in Italy sell candies in china jars, tied with red ribbons. These make for favorite Valentine's Day gifts on February 14.
In Denmark, gaekkebrevs (joking letters) are sent out on Valentine's Day in which the senders write light poems and sign their names only in dots. The person receiving the gaekkebrev has to guess who sent it and if it is guessed correctly, then he or she will get an Easter egg from the sender on Easter. Like the Americans, people in Germany and Austria and also give out Valentine's Day gifts, flowers, cards and chocolates to their wives on Valentine's Day.
However in Spain, the tradition is a little different and here, the wives give the presents to their husbands and the husbands give flowers to their wives. In Scotland, there is a festival on Valentine's Day where young men and women write their names on pieces of paper and put them into separate hats, one for men and one for women. Names are drawn out by both parties, but the men, irrespective of the names they have drawn, have to dance with the women who pick them. And a world of dancing and merrymaking follow.
In Australia, the Valentine's Day celebrations resemble those of America. Gifts and flowers are given out to loved ones. It is a heavily publicized event and the shopping malls are decorated and attract a lot of visitors on this day. However, it is not too much of a "festival" in Australia.
In Japan, there is a unique tradition. Women buy a particular type of candy called hon-mei and gift it to the person they are romantically attached to. It can be a crush, boyfriend, fiancé or husband. Then after one month, on March 14 (also known as White Day), the men return the favor by sending candies to all the women who remembered them on Valentine's Day. The candies sent out by the men are generally white because of the name of the day.
In Brazil, there is no such thing as Valentine's Day. However, something like Valentine's Day, "Dia dos Namorados" is celebrated on June 12. On this day lovers gift each other candies, flowers, cards and other love presents.
The Chinese celebrate Valentine's Day on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Contrary to the Western custom of giving gifts to the beloved, the young girls make artistic items and offer them to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, in prayer for better needlework skills and also for loving husbands. The language of love is universal and no matter where in the world you are in, Valentine's Day is celebrated all around with equal joy and affection.
So wherever you are in the world, make sure you're near to your "world of joy", your beloved and celebrate hand in hand to bring a world of happiness to him/ her.
Sean Carter writes on holidays, Valentine's Day and world events. He is a writer with special interest in ecard industry and writes for 123greetings.com. He is an active blogger at Valentines Day Blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment