Can’t stand Italian Valentine’s Day? Travel

VERONICA GUARISCO, 2D

A great number of Italians tend to consider Valentine’s Day as the latest commercial gimmick, made to enrich stores and florists. Well, if this can cheer you up, it’s the same almost everywhere! Despite conventionalism, consumerism, cynicism, and all the other –isms, on the 14th the feeling par excellence, Love, is celebrated. Although the truth behind the festival is murky, it’s certain that it has century-old roots. One of the most accredited beliefs reports that Valentine was a priest who served during the 3rd century in Rome, who celebrated outlawed marriage for young lovers, notwithstanding emperor Claudius’ ordinance which supported the belief that single men made better soldiers than those with families. Of course, once he was found out, he was sentenced to death. Gradually, Saint Valentine became so popular that couples all across the world started to remember the date he was executed on as the day of love. It occurs in different ways, closely related to peoples’ culture: even if you hardly enjoy this festivity, I’m sure you’ll change your opinion and run to pack your luggage after reading the rest of the article.

United States

Here lovers go all out in displaying their fondness for each other. Every year, Americans spend a sweet 18

billion dollars on candy, cards, chocolates, flowers and jewelry. Greeting cards are the most common gift, but not just for couples. Family, friends and schoolchildren also exchange cards with notes of friendship, affection and appreciation. America’s most popular Valentine’s Day candy isn’t a box of chocolates, though, but the little conversation hearts with messages like “Be Mine” and “Kiss Me”. Fun fact: enough candy hearts are produced in a year for everyone in the world to have one!

Denmark

Although Valentine’s Day is a relatively new holiday in Denmark (celebrated since the early 1990s according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark), the country has embraced it with a Danish twist. Rather than roses, friends and sweethearts exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops. Another popular Danish Valentine’s Day tradition is the exchange of gaekkebrev, a “joking letter” consisting of a funny poem or rhyme written on intricately cut paper and signed only with anonymous dots. If a woman who receives the gaekkebrev can correctly guess the sender, she earns herself an Easter egg later that year.

Finland

Wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate friendship every year with your best friends, mates and buddies, not only your soul mate? On Valentine’s Day, Finland is the place to be for those who loves friendship. Actually, in Finnish the festivity is called ystävänpäivä (literally “Friend’s Day”) and, like the name suggests, the idea is to feast and spend time with friends. The official flower is the pink rose, but most mates are happy to receive gifts, cards or candy, too.

France

With a reputation as one of the most romantic destinations in the world, it’s been said that the first Valentine’s Day card originated in France when Charles, the Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415. Today, Valentine’s Day cards remain a popular tradition in France and around the world. Another traditional event in France was the loterie d’amour, or “drawing for love”. Men and women would fill houses that faced one another, and then take turns calling out to one another and

pairing off. Men who weren’t satisfied with their match could simply leave a woman for another, and the women left unmatched gathered afterward for a bonfire. During the bonfire, women burned pictures of the men who wronged them and hurled swears and insults at the opposite sex. The event became so uncontrollable that the French government eventually banned the tradition all together.

Peru

Thanks to countrywide Carnival celebrations, most Peruvians are on holiday in February, which means they have extra time to plan their lovedup itinerary. Instead of exchanging roses, many opt for orchids, a flower native to the country. They even hold mass weddings to accommodate all the couples saying “I do” on the most romantic day of the year.

Brazil

With Carnival held sometime in February or March each year, Brazilians skip the February 14th celebration and instead celebrate Dia dos Namorados, or “Lovers’ Day,” on June 12th. In addition to the usual exchanges of chocolates, flowers and cards, music festivals and performances are held throughout the country. Gift giving isn’t limited to couples, either. In Brazil, people celebrate this day of love by exchanging gifts and sharing dinner with friends and relatives, too. The following day is Saint Anthony’s Day, which honors the patron saint of marriage. On this day, single women perform rituals called simpatias in hopes that St. Anthony will bring them a husband.

Wales

You won’t find the Welsh celebrating Saint Valentine’s, instead they celebrate Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, on January 25th. One traditional romantic Welsh gift is a love spoon. As early as the 17th century, men carved intricate wooden spoons as a token of affection for the women they loved. Patterns and symbols were carved into these love spoons, each signifying a different meaning. A few examples include horseshoes, which stand for good luck, wheels, which symbolize support, and keys, which symbolize the keys to a man’s heart. Today, love spoons are also exchanged for celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries and births and are even available in chocolate.

South Korea

Valentine’s Day is a popular holiday for young couples in South Korea, and variations of the holiday are celebrated monthly from February through April. The gift-giving starts on February 14th, when it’s up to women to woo their men with chocolates, candies and flowers. The tables turn on March 14th, a holiday known as White Day, when men not only shower their sweethearts with chocolates and flowers, but up the ante with a gift. And for those who don’t have much to celebrate on either Valentine’s Day or White Day, there is a third holiday: Black Day. On April 14th, it’s customary for singles to mourn their solitary status by eating dark bowls of jajangmyeon, or black bean-paste noodles.

Philippines

While Valentine’s Day celebrations in the Philippines are similar to celebrations in Western countries, one tradition has swept the country and led to thousands of couples sharing a wedding day on February 14th. Mass wedding ceremonies have gained popularity in the Philippines in recent years, leading hundreds of couples to gather at malls or other public areas around the country to get married or renew their vows en masse.

Slovenia

In Slovenia, even though the western influence is felt nowadays and Valentine’s Day is celebrated as well, there’s still a special day devoted to love birds. One of the traditional beliefs says that birds propose to each other and marry on March 12th. Moreover, it’s suggested that those who are looking for love walk barefoot through the frozen fields, so they can watch the birds wed.

South Africa

Like many parts of the world, South Africa celebrates Valentine’s Day with festivals, flowers and other tokens of love. However, it’s also customary for women in South Africa to wear their hearts on their sleeves on February 14th: women, in an ancient Roman tradition known as Lupercalia, pin the names of their love interest on their shirtsleeves. In some cases, this is how South African men learn of their secret admirers.

China

The equivalent to Valentine’s Day in China is Qixi, or the Seventh Night

Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year. According to Chinese lore, Zhinu, a heavenly king’s daughter, and Niulang, a poor cowherd, fell in love, married and had twins. When Zhinu’s father learned of their marriage, he sent his queen to bring Zhinu back to the stars. Upon hearing the cries of Niulang and the children, the king allowed Zhinu and Niulang to meet once a year on Qixi. During Qixi, young women prepare offerings of melon and other fruits to Zhinu in hopes of finding a good husband. Couples also head to temples to pray for happiness and prosperity. At night, people look to the heavens to watch as stars Vega and Altair (Zhinu and Niulang, respectively) come close during the star-crossed pair’s annual reunion.

Last but not least, Italy

Originally, Italians celebrated Valentine’s Day as the Spring Festival. The young and amorous gathered outside in gardens and such to enjoy poetry readings and music before taking a stroll with their beloved. Another Italian Valentine’s Day tradition was for young, unmarried girls to wake up before dawn to spot their future husbands. The belief was that the first man a woman saw on Valentine’s Day was the man she would marry within a year. Or he’d at least strongly resemble the man she would marry. As for how it’s celebrated today, you already know!