Celebration of love in 5 different countries

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Everyone across the world has already geared up to celebrate Valentine’s Day which comes on 14th February every year. Dedicated to the memory of St. Valentine, this is the occasion when people all over the world profess love to their sweethearts and get for them all the best gifts they can find. Be it UK or India Valentine Day is the celebration of ‘Love’. But the ways of celebrating this occasion differ from place to place and from nation to nation. Here we present the unique customs and traditions associated with this occasion of 5 different countries.

Japan
Though in Japan, Valentine’s Day is observed on February 14 but the celebration of love truly ends on March 14, known as the “White Day”. In order to express love or special feeling Japanese women present gifts or chocolates to men on February 14th. Chocolate is a must for Japanese Valentine’s Day celebrations.
As most of the women believe that the packaged chocolate is not a gift of true love, they tend to make them all by themselves. Women may present chocolates to their male friends, co-workers, close family friend and so many. While chocolates given to men whom women don’t feel special love are called “giri (obligation)-choco (chocolate)” in Japan, confections gifted to a special man is called “honmei (prospective winner)-choco.” Men who receive chocolates or gifts on Valentine’s day are supposed to return the favour to the women on March 14, known as White Day in Japan.
This is the time when men are to give back a gift to the women who gave them gifts just a month before The tradition is believed to have been introduced by a marshmallow company in the 1960s.

Korea
Like Japan on 14th Feb young women give candies and chocolates to their boyfriends. The favour is returned the same way by the men on March 14, which is referred to as “White Day” similar to the custom in Japan. Some confess their love to their girlfriends on that day, so many young women look forward to it. But young men or women who don’t have girlfriend spend these days alone. So, there is another special day called ‘Black Day’ for themselves. On this day, individuals who are not in any relationship used to have Jajang noodles together which are black in colour. Jajang noodles are black, so that is why they call it Black Day. However, it is still not as popular as Valentine’s Day and White Day.

Denmark:
In Denmark, February 14 is mainly a day for the young. Youngsters take proper care to follow the traditions to have a successful and romance filled love life. It’s a time for romance and exchanging of love tokens. Young people send their beloveds a valentine card on this occasion. The tradition of ‘lover’s card’ is the most popular and romantic Valentine’s Day custom in Denmark. Earlier, these cards came in the form of transparent cards which reflected the picture of a lover presenting his beloved a wonderful gift when it was kept infront of light. Now any card is called a Lover’s Card. Another tradition is to send white flowers called ‘snowdrops’ to their friends and lovers. Young couples also write special love poems, beautiful romantic love notes and some funny poems known as ‘gaekkebrev’. It is customary for the sender of gaekkebrev to pen down a rhyme for his beloved. He is not required to put his name on it. He signs the message with dots for the lady. Now, the girl who receives the card is supposed to guess the name of the sender. If she is able to guess the right name, then she is rewarded with an ‘Easter Egg’ during Eastertide on that very year.
In Australia, instead of giving chocolate, a card, or even a gold necklace to your sweetheart on February 14, satin cushions, sometimes embellished with flowers, colored shells, a stuffed hummingbird or bird of paradise, are given. This tradition of elaborate gift-giving began during the gold rush period in Australia, the profits of which allowed people to buy their loved ones more extravagant gifts on Valentine’s Day.

Romania:
In Romania, Valentine’s Day is not traditionally celebrated on 14th February. Romanians celebrate the love day on February 24th. The Valentine’s Day is called as ’Dragobete’ and it is not celebrated in a grand manner unlike United States or Canada but Romanian youngsters celebrate ’Dragobete’ with vigor and joy. It is said that Dragobete, the son of Dochia, was a mythological deity in Romania, similar to Eros or Cupid. He was a handsome man who liked to indulge in love affairs. He used to celebrate his love affairs, a tradition that was picked up later by the Romanian youth.
There is also a belief held by some that birds got engaged on this day and since birds are considered to be the messengers of god in Romania, the day also holds a deep significance for the people of this country. Romanians started celebrating the Valentine’s Day only in the recent decades, due to the high promotion of Valentine’s Day through media. On this day, unmarried Romanian girls use to take snow in the morning and keep it in their home. This water is called as “Aghiazma” and it is believed that a person can be relieved from any kind of diseases if he drinks it.
Romanians celebrate this day by giving gifts to their loved one. Cards and flowers are given to make each other feel special and wanted. Young lovers treat their mates in a very special way, on this romantic occasion.

Australia
Valentine’s Day festival has a history of excessive celebrations in Australia. Here people give satin cushions, sometimes embellished with flowers, colored shells, a stuffed hummingbird or bird of paradise instead of giving chocolates, cards or gold necklace to their beloved ones. This tradition of elaborate gift-giving began during the gold rush period in Australia, the profits of which allowed people to buy their loved ones more extravagant gifts on Valentine’s Day. If you are looking for a fashionable and somewhat expensive way to shower you loves on your loved ones, satin cushion is the best of them all.



Keywords: Valentine’s Day , St. Valentine,‘Love,male friends, co-workers, close family friend , chocolates , special love ,White Day,Black Day,romantic Valentine’s Day,Easter Egg, diseases.