Valentine's Day Around the World
Valentine's Day isn't just a U.S. holiday. Couples all over the world celebrate this love holiday by collectively spending millions of dollars, yen, euros and other currencies on February 14.
From Saudia Arabia (where the holiday is banned) to Japan (where only women give chocolate gifts) to the U.K. (where cards are sent anonymously), the traditions can vary significantly.
Here are a few examples:
Japan
Japan's tradition actually stems from a mistranslation in the 1950s, when chocolate companies began encouraging people to celebrate Valentine's Day there. An incorrect translation from one company gave Japanese consumers the idea that it was customary for women to give chocolate to men on the holiday. And that has become the tradition! Now the chocolate companies in Japan sell more than half of their annual sales during the week before Valentine's Day. Men are supposed to return gifts to women on a day called "White Day" (March 14), a Japanese creation.
Italy
In Italy, Valentine's Day was originally celebrated as the Spring Festival, where people (usually young people) gathered outside in gardens and tree arbors to enjoy poetry readings and music before taking a stroll with their beloved. Today, Italians prefer having romantic dinners and exchanging gifts. Chocolate is a favorite gift, and the bigger the chocolate, as the belief goes, the stronger the love you will have.
Saudi Arabia
Valentine's Day is actually BANNED in Saudi Arabia. In 2008, Saudi officials told florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine's Day, calling the celebration a sin as it "encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women."
Japan's tradition actually stems from a mistranslation in the 1950s, when chocolate companies began encouraging people to celebrate Valentine's Day there. An incorrect translation from one company gave Japanese consumers the idea that it was customary for women to give chocolate to men on the holiday. And that has become the tradition! Now the chocolate companies in Japan sell more than half of their annual sales during the week before Valentine's Day. Men are supposed to return gifts to women on a day called "White Day" (March 14), a Japanese creation.
Italy
In Italy, Valentine's Day was originally celebrated as the Spring Festival, where people (usually young people) gathered outside in gardens and tree arbors to enjoy poetry readings and music before taking a stroll with their beloved. Today, Italians prefer having romantic dinners and exchanging gifts. Chocolate is a favorite gift, and the bigger the chocolate, as the belief goes, the stronger the love you will have.
Saudi Arabia
Valentine's Day is actually BANNED in Saudi Arabia. In 2008, Saudi officials told florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine's Day, calling the celebration a sin as it "encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women."
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