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February 13, 2020
Features Love around the globe The Merionite
Claire Wang ’23
Celebrated all around the globe, Valentine’s Day marks the time to show your affection and love towards others close to you. A day showered with flowers, sweets, and romantic comedies, and shelves lined with stuffed animals and boxes of chocolate. Although these may be the staples of Valentine’s Day in the U.S., other countries have alternative and unique ways of declaring their love. The global holiday is celebrated differently in other corners of the world. For example, in Denmark, lovers exchange pressed white flowers called “snowdrops,” along with handmade cards as a replacement for red and white roses. Traditionally, gifts are given on the single day of February fourteenth, but this is not the case for the people of South Korea. South Koreans have a series of gift-giving days that span across three months. It begins on Valentine’s Day, where women offer their partner a variety of sweets and presents. However, a month later on March 14, the men return the favor with all sorts of gifts. The final
the day eating black bean-paste noodles weeping about their lonesome social status. This is similar to the singles in Lower Merion, but instead of black noodles, a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream often helps students cope with their solitary lifestyles.
“On the fifteenth of the Jewish month of Av (usually July/August)— considered the holiday of love, there is a lot of dancing, singing to celebrate the love they share with one another” - Nehama Dorms ’19
Graphic by Chris de Santis ’20
“My birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so my family and I celebrate by going to an indoor waterpark.” -Anika Wolchuk ’20
day on April fourteenth is dedicated to those who do not have a relationship to celebrate. They spend
Further, in England, candies and little presents are left on the porches for children on Valentine’s Day from “Jack Valentine,” the Santa of February 14th.
On a brighter note, Valentine’s Day has a particular significance in the Philippines, because many couples gather their friends and families to get married on that date. Venues and gardens are packed as new couples unite and old lovers renew their vows. Instead of giving gifts on the 14th, the Welsh celebrate their patron saint of lovers called Saint Dwynwen on January 25. It is also customary to present their beloved ones with carved wooden spoons festooned with patterns and designs holding several meanings. For instance, the symbols engraved can contain different connotations like luck, which is represented by a horseshoe.
Additionally, for women in South Africa, displaying affection and making those they admire aware of their endearment is a simple process. The ancient Roman tradition of literally wearing hearts on their sleeves and pinning the names of their love interests is extremely common. These customs of showing admiration may seem unusual and different to what we are used to in Lower Merion, but they all share a similar underlying component of appreciating and celebrating love. Around the corner is most likely a Wawa where those who are forgetful can purchase last-minute chocolate roses and candy hearts. At LM, couples traditionally go to romantic dinners at restaurants such as Continental and Hymies, or enjoy fondue at The Melting Pot. Some may travel to the outdoor ice skating rinks in Philly or the natural scenery at Longwood gardens. However LM students choose to spend this Valentine’s Day, the sentiments behind the celebrations will likely be similar to those of lovers’ around the world.
