Top 20 Countries with the Most Unique Valentine's Day Traditions Around the World

When Valentine's Day first arrived in Italy, it was celebrated as a spring festival. On this day, young people would gather outdoors in gardens to enjoy music, recite poetry, or stroll with their lovers.

Today, Italians exchange meaningful gifts with their partners and enjoy a romantic dinner together. One of the most popular gifts exchanged is the Baci Perugia, a chocolate-covered hazelnut treat that is only available on Valentine's Day.

France is often considered the symbol of love. Many sources claim that Valentine's Day originated in France when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent a love letter to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.

Today, Valentine's Day remains a cherished tradition in France and has spread to many countries around the world. On this day, couples exchange romantic cards, while single individuals may engage in conversations and possibly meet someone special.

For the people of South Korea, especially the youth, the 14th of each month holds its own unique meaning, and whether good or bad, it is always worth celebrating. In South Korea, Valentine's Day is one of the most popular holidays for young couples.

On this day, it is customary for couples to exchange roses and chocolates – symbols of the sweetness and romance of love. However, in South Korea, it is the girls who typically take the initiative to give gifts, mostly chocolates. Many girls see this as an opportunity to confess their feelings, and after giving the gift, they patiently wait for a response from their crush.

In Japan, on Valentine's Day, girls give flowers, gifts, and chocolates to the ones they love. On White Day (March 14th), men reciprocate the affection by giving gifts back to the women.

As is widely known, Japanese women are often shy and reserved, making Valentine's Day a special occasion for them to express their love. An interesting tradition in Japan is that women not only give gifts to their partners but also offer chocolates to male colleagues and close friends as a gesture of respect. These chocolates are called 'giri choko,' meaning 'obligatory chocolate.' On White Day, men return the favor with gifts if they have romantic feelings for the women.

Unlike other countries, Brazil celebrates Valentine's Day on June 12th, a day known as Dia dos Namorados, which is dedicated to lovers. This date was chosen because the Carnival festival typically takes place in February or March, so Brazilians moved the celebration of love to June.

On Valentine's Day, couples exchange gifts like chocolates, flowers, and cards. Additionally, music performances are held across the country to celebrate the occasion. Gift-giving is not limited to couples or married partners; many Brazilians also celebrate by sharing gifts and having dinner with friends and family.

In the United States, roses, cards, and chocolates are the most common gifts exchanged on Valentine's Day. Romantic dinners with candles and champagne, as well as festive events, are held nationwide on February 14th.

What's interesting about Valentine's Day in the U.S. is that it isn't just for couples; it's also a celebration for children. Children perform dances, songs, and plays to add to the festivities. Like adults, they handcraft cards to send to their loved ones.

Valentine's Day in the U.S. sees the consumption of 190 million cards, with over half of those being given to family members, often to children. Schools also hold special activities, with teachers being the top recipients of cards.

In Australia, Valentine's Day is a special occasion not just for couples. It’s a day when people express their love and appreciation for anyone they care about, including family, friends, and even fellow singles. Cards with heartfelt messages and good luck wishes are exchanged between loved ones.

Though roses are popular, they aren't the most favored flower on this day. Instead, men gift the flower that their partner loves the most. Gift-giving in Australia can also be unique, with some couples even exchanging marriage certificates or meaningful keepsakes to celebrate their love with heartfelt blessings.

Contrary to what many might believe, Taiwan is quite reserved when it comes to matters of love and relationships. The Taiwanese tend to be shy about expressing affection, marriage, or even having children. However, Valentine's Day is a romantic celebration similar to that in Vietnam. On this day, couples typically exchange gifts or chocolates as tokens of affection.

Similar to Japan and South Korea, Valentine's Day in Taiwan is unique because on February 14, men give gifts to their partners, and then on March 14, women return the favor.

In Norway, Valentine's Day is a relatively new celebration. One unique tradition is the sending of "Gaekkebrev," a love poem sent anonymously by men to women they admire. The only clue to the sender's identity is the number of letters in his name, which is noted in the sender's section.

When women receive this mystery gift, they must try to guess who the sender is. If they guess correctly, they win an Easter egg. However, if they guess wrong, they owe the sender an Easter egg in return.

In Slovenia, February 14th marks the first day of work in the fields for the year. St. Valentine, or Zdravko, is considered one of the springtime saints in Slovenia. Locals believe that the birds in the fields will confess their love and 'marry' during this time (coincidentally, this is also when certain bird species search for mates).

Since this day is associated with farming, the official celebration of Valentine's Day doesn't occur until March 12th (St. Gregory's Day). Some Slovenians also observe the holiday on February 22nd (St. Vincent's Day) and June 13th (St. Anthony's Day).

In Finland and Estonia, February 14th is celebrated more as a day of friendship rather than romantic love. Therefore, in both Finnish and Estonian languages, February 14th is referred to as 'Friendship Day.'

On this day, people exchange greeting cards or gifts with friends. Interestingly, it is also a popular day for weddings and engagements.

Interestingly, in Wales, the celebration of Valentine's Day is observed on January 25th, the feast day of Saint Dwynwen. On this day, people traditionally give each other wooden 'love spoons,' which are carved with meaningful designs. These spoons are often presented to a woman as a token of affection.

Valentine's Day in the UK has its own unique local traditions, especially in the region of Norfolk. Here, a special figure named Jack Valentine is said to visit homes, knocking on doors to deliver candy and gifts to children. However, many children are said to be scared of this mysterious figure.

Despite the fact that the production and sale of Valentine's-related items are banned in Iran due to concerns about Western influences, the holiday has become increasingly popular among young people. On Valentine's Day, stores often decorate their windows with animal figures, heart-shaped chocolates, and red balloons.

In Peru, instead of exchanging roses, many couples opt for orchids – a traditional flower of the country. There are even mass weddings held on this romantic day, allowing multiple couples to say 'I do' together.

Romania celebrates its own version of Valentine's Day on February 24, known as Dragobete, or 'the day the birds build their nests.' Romanians believe that if someone steps on their partner's foot during this day, they will become the leader in their relationship. There's still debate about whether Romanians combine Valentine's Day with the traditional Dragobete festival.

In South Africa, Valentine's celebrations take place throughout the month of February. All the single men and women gather to celebrate Mbukale Btigo (Love each other's hearts), a traditional collective engagement ceremony. Valentine's Day in South Africa is often celebrated with parties at dance floors or bars. According to tradition, women pin the name of their partner or someone they fancy onto their sleeve.

Valentine's Day is considered a relatively new holiday in Denmark, having been officially celebrated since 1990. On this day, couples usually exchange snowdrop flowers, a symbol of love, pressed and dried, instead of the typical roses and chocolates common in other countries.

Additionally, couples in Denmark also gift each other cards with portraits of their loved ones. While Valentine's Day is not as widely celebrated as in other countries, some people still exchange flowers, cards, and other tokens of affection.

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to celebrate Valentine's Day. Interestingly, the traditional gift on this day is not chocolate, but silver spoons engraved with a lock and key, symbolizing that only one person holds the key to the other's heart.

Additionally, it is a popular tradition for girls to write the name of their crush on a piece of paper, place it on a clay ball, and drop it into the water. The name of the person whose paper rises to the surface first is said to be the rightful suitor. On Valentine's Day, it is also common for children to sing songs of blessing and be rewarded with sweets and fruits.

In China, February 14th is not considered Valentine's Day. Instead, the 7th day of the 7th lunar month (known as Qixi or the 'Double Seventh Festival') is celebrated as the traditional day of love. According to legend, this is when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are reunited on the Magpie Bridge. On this day, couples exchange red roses, with each number of roses carrying special meanings: one rose signifies love, 99 roses mean eternal love, and receiving 108 roses is a proposal of marriage.

During Qixi, unmarried women often pray with melons and other fruits, hoping to find a good husband soon. Married couples visit temples to pray for happiness and harmony in their families. As night falls, people look up at the sky to see the stars Altair and Vega (representing the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl), marking their emotional reunion.