10 Romantic Traditions Around the World (That Aren't Valentine's Day) (2024)

FAQs

What are some different Valentine's day traditions from around the world? ›

Saudi Arabia: Due to religious and cultural reasons, public celebration of Valentine's Day is prohibited. Pakistan: Although some individuals may privately celebrate, it's not widely observed due to cultural and religious sensitivities.

But for people in some parts of the globe, celebrating the holiday—which marks the feast day of St. Valentine, a Christian martyr—is taboo or even illegal: Religious edicts and concerns about the spread of Western commercial culture have quashed the annual February 14 festival of lovers.

Valentine's Day in Japan is celebrated by women giving gifts of chocolate to the men in their lives. Romantic partners or interests receive special chocolates known as honmei-choco, while male friends and colleagues or classmates receive obligatory giri-choco.

While chocolates, candy and cards are fairly ubiquitous on Valentine's Day, the holiday has taken on some unique traditions in different parts of the globe. Learn about Japan's "true feeling" chocolates, mass weddings in South Africa, Denmark's "love spoons" and other ways humans celebrate the romantic holiday.

Muslims refrain from celebrating Valentine's Day due to its historical and religious roots, as well as concerns about imitating non-Islamic practices and the emphasis on romantic love outside the framework of marriage, which conflicts with Islamic principles.

The feeling of love on Valentine's Day in Russia is overwhelming. Couples usually plan romantic dinners to celebrate.

It can be also observed that different religious groups, including Hindu, Muslim and Christian people of India do not support Valentine's Day. In modern times, Hindu and Islamic traditionalists have considered the holiday to be cultural contamination from the West, a result of globalization in India.

During the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February, women would pin the name of their love interest on their shirt sleeve. The tradition developed in the medieval centuries, with jousting knights wearing a ribbon around their wrist as a token of love gifted to them by their beloved.

What traditions did Valentine's day originate from? ›

Possible ancient origins

In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia was observed February 13–15 on behalf of Pan and Juno, pagan gods of love, marriage and fertility. It was a rite connected to purification and health, and had only slight connection to fertility (as a part of health) and none to love.

8. A candlelit dinner at home. Whether you order or cook something, don't forget to light some candles and enjoy the meal with the family. This could also be an excellent time for everyone to talk about what they admire about each other during the family Valentine's Day celebrations.

South Africa

South Africans celebrate with flowers and gifts, and some women pin the name of their love interest on the sleeve of their shirt, which ensures that secret admirers don't remain secret for long!