In our previous blog, we suggested giving a tanzanite gemstone as an alternative to chocolates, flowers, teddy bears and other traditional gifts for the upcoming valentines day celebration. Some german valentines day traditions are completely different from the american concept of the day, while others are much the same. Valentine s day is a holiday for the adults in germany, with no gift exchanges being typically allowed at schools. Its fairly certain that he was a roman named valentine who was imprisoned and put to death, possibly for aiding christians to escape from rome around the year 270 bc. Valentines day conjures a very specific image in the united states namely, all things red and pink and heartshaped. Not only traditions vary though, but the dates also. Nowadays, the holiday means big business and people around the world celebrate st. Download german worksheets, video scripts and more for individual. That being said, the vast majority of countries today. Scroll down below to check more of the weird traditions and valentine s day facts from all over the world. Valentines day traditions around the world check out japan. Valentines day has spread around the world, resulting in unique traditions from country to country.
Valentine s day isnt all about chocolate and flowers around the world. Feb 10, 2011 join us as we explore the history of valentines day. For example, in germany huge gingerbread cookies in the shape of hearts are made and presented. Most commonly observed valentines day tradition and custom is expressing ones love with an exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. Well there you have it, a few examples from around the world that show how countries can put their own unique spin on valentines day and love in general. Dwynwens day the patron saint of lovers on january 25th, which is their equivalent to valentines day. Valentines day is a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. Top 10 valentines day celebrations around the world while.
History, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for awardwinning original series and specials that connect. Gingerbread hearts are strung on string, decorated with frosting that spells out frank messages about the givers intentions. This fact can also be applied to the country of germany, located in the central zone of europe. Read on to find out the weirdest, coolest and most amazing valentines day traditions around the world. Valentines day is an old tradition from the roman empire. Valentines day in germany the fervour of valentines day celebration in germany. Jan 02, 2018 with this new sentimental and costeffective outlook in mind, here are seven bygone valentine s day traditions that wed like to see make a comeback. The history of valentines dayand the story of its patron saintis shrouded in mystery. Valentines day traditions around the globe transferwise. Overall, valentines day is not a major event in germany. Traditions that we learn in childhood can be passed on to our own children when we become adults.
Learn about valentines day traditions around the globe while teaching english abroad. Before you go on learning the unique and interesting valentines day traditions around the world that make the day of love special in these countries, heres a story about how it all started. Sadly, valentines day in the western world has become all about cliches, and although pop culture plays right into those cliches, we still have a few interesting valentines day traditions that are followed all over the world. But when youre single, trying to learn how to be romantic can seem daunting. The traditions of valentines day in italy are embedded in a long history long before hallmark came along. Valentines day isnt all about chocolate and flowers around the world. Your students will learn about how 14 different countries celebrate valentines day around the world through letters from children. To celebrate the day of love this february 14, we take a look at how valentines day is celebrated in germany and other countries across the. History of how valentines day came to be in germany. Thus, i thought that it would be fun to take a look at what traditions are.
Possible the most popular valentines day gift in italy is baci perugina, which is a small, chocolatecovered hazelnut encased with a romantic quote written in four different languages. The most popular valentines gift is chocolate, but to keep history straight, the heartshaped praline box was invented by a brit named richard cadbury in 1868. It is celebrated in many ways worldwide and falls on. The celebration for valentines day in germany is popular among the locals, but.
Feb 12, 2016 and in the philippines, the day is a popular occasion for mass weddings where hundreds, sometimes even thousands, tie the knot in unison in huge, governmentsponsored events. Perhaps you will be inspired to think beyond your own culture and add a new tradition to make this year the most romantic yet. St valentines day is celebrated with enthusiasm and fond regard in several countries around the world. Celebrating the coming of spring valentines day was tied to the ancient roman festival of lupercalia that in addition to notably stranger themes looked ahead to the promise of springa season of flowers, love, and new life. Valentines day brings out many strong emotions in people. Scroll down below to check more of the weird traditions and valentines day facts from all over the world. In addition to the standard chocolates and flowers, in germany its also customary to give your love a pig on valentines day. In the united states, valentines day is and pretty much always has been all about celebrating romantic love. With the february 14th holiday comes chocolates, romantic dinners, flowers and, for many, that faithful kiss that leads to a lifetime of happiness. Since there are no traditional german recipes for this imported holiday, you are free to decide how and what you will do to make this a special day. The lupercalia only ended in 495 when it was banned by the pope. Bizarre traditions followed on valentines day across the world. Valentine is one of the saints of spring in slovenia, and it is said that plants and flowers start to grow on this day. Were so glad vashi created this charming guide to the worlds unusual and romantic valentines day traditions.
Valentines day traditions around the world readers digest. Valentines day by showing appreciation and affection for the people they love. Valentines day is a special day when people in love express it to each other, nevertheless every day is a valentines day if you meet the right person. To name some of them, we have albert einstein, arthur schopenhauer, fredrick nietzsche and franz kafka. Valentines day traditions around the world travelzoo. Here are seven valentine s day traditions from history that will make you look at the modern day. Do you wish to learn a little about valentines day traditions. As in the case of other christian celebrations, valentine s day is more likely based on the pagan roman fertility festival called lupercalia that took place in midfebruary.
February 14 is all about sharing the love and maybe a little bit of chocolate. But valentines day is not an exclusively american celebration, and cultures around the world have many different ways to observe the holiday. Feb 04, 2019 on white day men are supposed to give return gifts usually white chocolate, flowers, etc. Valentines day traditions from around the world the. Here are some romantic german phrases for valentines dayand the rest of the. Lots of people have traditions that they perform on the day of and the days leading up to valentine s day. They have taken the valentines traditions a step further and introduced what they call black day. Thus, i thought that it would be fun to take a look at what traditions are held in other countries around the world. Let us know if there are any special valentines day customs and traditions of your own that you follow with your bae or alone, in the comments section. On friday 14 february, people around the world who observe valentines day will shower each other with affection, whether in the form of cards, gifts or token gestures. Jan 23, 2019 with february 14th right around the corner, you may be thinking of valentine s day ideas to surprise your partner. The celebration of valentines day in germany, although popular, isnt really commercial as other parts of the world. The origins of both the man known as valentinus and the celebration itself are obscure. It is celebrated in many ways worldwide and falls on february 14 each year.
Feb 09, 2016 valentine s day has been a feature of the landscape for so long that there have been studies on. Romantic festival of st valentine s day is celebrated with enthusiasm and fond regard in several countries around the world. A more modernday tradition includes presenting your love with an oversized gingerbread heart. Valentines day around the world endless 334 pages and growing is a unit filled with reading passages and literacy activities. With this new sentimental and costeffective outlook in mind, here are seven bygone valentines day traditions that wed like to see make a comeback. In finland valentines day is called ystavanpaiva, which means friends day. Lots of people have traditions that they perform on the day of and the days leading up to valentines day. Romantic festival of st valentines day is celebrated with enthusiasm and fond regard in several countries around the world. Legend goes that dwynwen, daughter of king brychan brycheinog lived in anglesey, in the 5th century and fell in love with a young man named maelon. Valentines day in germany valentines day celebrations.
Germans consider cigarettes, socks and cactuses as some of the worst valentines gifts. Feb 16, 2016 valentine s day brings out many strong emotions in people. This may sound strange, but it will make more sense once you understand that the main german symbol of the day of love is the pig an animal that traditionally symbolizes luck and lust in germany. Along with gifts, flowers, chocolates, there is a very special and unique addition to the celebration a pig. Valentines day has been a feature of the landscape for so long that there have been studies on. Find out how the holiday is celebrated in italy, finland, and the rest of the world. Valentines day is a holiday for the adults in germany, with no gift exchanges being typically allowed at schools. Valentines day traditions fun valentines day ideas. On the april 14th, a month after white day the single people who didnt receive any lovin chocolates or gifts on valentines day or white day. Many other countries celebrate valentines day, too, each in their own way. Valentines day is quite recent in germany, there are not so many traditions connected with it. Unlike many other countries where valentines day is mainly a day of romance, in finland it is also the day when close friends send cards and gifts to each other. Celebrated only since the end of world war ii, valentines day is a fairly recent holiday in germany. Before valentines day became the massmarketed consumerfrenzy holiday that it is today, it had its roots in ancient roman history and traditions.
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable pdf that. Valentines day around the world by yvonne crawford tpt. Even so, it is a popular day for finns to get engaged and married. Valentines day traditions around the world check out. Take a romantic tour with us around the world as we discover four unique valentines day traditions. Founder joyce hall started selling greeting postcards from two shoe boxes as early as 1910. Germans also often exchange valentines day cards and chocolates, but one tradition that is uniquely german is the gifting of large gingerbread heart cookies.
The great part of german valentines day phrases is that you can technically use them in several situations, even if youre not sitting across from a loved one on the holiday. Little is known about the roman or romans who may have been a bishop in terni or a priest in rome. The custom par excellence is expressing ones love with an exchange of cards, flowers and chocolates. Feb 03, 2020 valentines day conjures a very specific image in the united states namely, all things red and pink and heartshaped. Learn about the historical background of the holiday, and the traditions of celebration. The most romantic germans are the bavarians 54% of them celebrate it every year.
Along with that, these phrases provide a way for you to express your love for someone in a different language. Most commonly observed valentine s day tradition and custom is expressing one s love with an exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. This includes giving cards, sweet treats and flowers to their loved ones on this special day. Apparently, gifts of chocolates and flowers havent replaced carefully chosen cards on valentines day. Theyre all things you can do for free or practically free, which will help put the emphasis on making memories with your spouse, friends, and family members. Download our free birthday and holiday calendar in pdf format. Many legends have been born on the land of germany in various fields including philosophy and literature. Jan 24, 2016 in the united states, valentine s day is and pretty much always has been all about celebrating romantic love. We hope that you have a lovely valentines day with your sweetie and your loved ones.
Here is a look at four countries valentines day traditions. February 14th is valentines day, and though celebrating valentines day has only become popular within the last few decades in germany, there are several traditions germans have taken on wholeheartedly. Click here for the 10 interesting valentines day traditions around the world slideshow depending on where you reside, there are numerous traditions that you. On valentines day in south africa, young women will pin the name of their crush to their sleeve for all to see its an homage to the ancient roman festival of lupercalia. Join us as we explore the history of valentines day. Valentines day is a universal celebration that is observed by people around the world, defying all boundaries of region and religion. While the holiday isnt celebrated as popularly in germany as it is in the united states, germans are aware of its existenceand some do choose to. With february 14th right around the corner, you may be thinking of valentines day ideas to surprise your partner. Valentines day celebrations around the world occurs in different ways that reflect local ideas about love. Here, a few of our favorite valentines day traditions some centuries old worth bringing back.
Valentines day by showing appreciation and affection for. That is not so out of the ordinary when you consider that in some countries around the world there are different traditions honored. When valentines day approaches, love is in the air. Some german valentine s day traditions are completely different from the american concept of the day, while others are much the same. In modern times, italians enjoy a classic valentines day celebration, such as a mutual gift exchange over a candlelit meal during the evening. Last but not least valentines day is less commercial in germany, however many still celebrate this date by gifting lovers with pictures, statues or chocolate models of pigs, which are said to bring good fortune and lust. Valentines day traditions traditions are special things that we do each and every year that are unique to our family.
We do know that february has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that st. Valentines day in germany valentinstag german culture. Valentines day in germany valentines day celebrations in. Here are 7 places with valentines traditions that you may not know about. In estonia, friendship rather than romantic love is traditionally. Celebrated only since the end of world war ii, valentine s day is a fairly recent holiday in germany. February 14 valentines day valentinstag in germany valentines day is not as. These were some of the most interesting valentines day traditions that people practice or used to practice, all over the world in various countries. If we are accustomed to february the 14th, then other countries have their own idea on when should the love day be celebrated. Celebrate this valentines day in germany with your beloved. While roses and cute cards may now be synonymous with the holiday, there are unique celebrations around the world.
Bizarre traditions followed on valentines day across the. Valentines day is an international holiday, and it is widely celebrated in germany. Valentines day traditions in germany and around the world. Although several legends have arisen around the christian martyr valentinus, there is no historical evidence that connects him to lovers or todays feb. Valentine traditions valentines day in different countries.
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