Valentine’s Day – Spread the love!

admin Thoughts

Feb 14

February 14 is Valentine’s Day! This time is set aside to exchange love through our friends, family and love ones.

But do you ever wonder how this day is celebrated by various nationalities all over the world?

Here are some fun facts that you need to know about this crazy V-day!

Lily and her boyfriend

In JAPAN, they have an interesting way of celebrating valentines. For them, there’s 2 day celebration. On February 14, the girls gives dark chocolate to the boys they like and on March 14, the boys turn to give white chocolate to the girls they like.

In Britain and some parts of Europe, has a belief that unmarried ladies pin four bay leaves to the corners of their pillow and eat eggs with salt replacing the removed yokes on Valentine’s Day eve. They write their lover’s names on paper and put them on clay balls that they would drop into the water. It was believed that whichever paper came up first, that man would be their future husband!

lovers Carlo & Carla

In US, this is a major card and gift giving festival. Days before the festival markets wear a festive look to attract consumers.
Another interesting way of recognizing this day in the US is the celebrations organized by kids. Schools organize Valentine’s Day programmes where children performs like dancing and singing.

In France, they once followed a peculiar Valentine’s Day custom called “drawing for”. Unmarried young and old people would go into houses facing each other and begin calling out across from one window to another and pair off with their chosen partner. If the young man failed to be particularly enthralled with his valentine, he would desert her. A bonfire would be lit later where ladies would burn images of their ungrateful lovers and hurl abuses at them. The ritual was eventually abandoned as it left much room for nastiness and ridicule. French government handed-down a decree and officially banned the custom.

In China, they have rituals for the day besides the usual exchange of flowers, cards and chocolates as tokens of love between lovers.Lovers visit the Temple of Matchmaker on the Chinese Valentine’s Day and pray for their love and happiness. Singles too visit the temple on the same day and ask for their luck in love.

While in the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is a phenomenon. Restaurants, discos and malls see a particularly busy time as couples celebrate the day in togetherness. People also express love to their friends and family. Popular Valentine’s Day gifts exchanged include chocolates, flowers, cards and stuffed toys. Isn’t it sweet? Yes it is and because of it, I got this one.