Logan's Weblog: 02.2006

current mood: Loving

Loving!

Ok, its Valentine's Day, and I thought as a Valentine to all my loyal reader's I would give you bunch in tidbits as my Valentine to you all! -- a lot of this info comes directly from the Wikipedia entry for Valentine's Day

How people celebrate Valentine's Day around the world?

JAPAN
In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated on two different dates...February 14 and March 14. On the first date, the female gives a gift to the male and on the second date...known as White Day and supposedly introduced by a marshmallow company in the 1960s...the male has to return the gift he received on February 14. Thus, strictly speaking, a Japanese female has the luxury of actually choosing her own gift. Chocolate is the most popular gift in Japan. However, since most Japanese females believe that store-bought chocolate is not a gift of true love, they tend to make the confection with their own hands.

KOREA
The traditional gift of candy takes place in Korea on February 14, but only from females to males. There is another special day for males to give gifts to females and this is celebrated on March 14. Very similar to the custom in Japan, March 14 in Korea is known as "White Day." On "White Day," many young men confess their love for the first time to their sweethearts. For those young people who have no particular romantic partners, the Koreans have set aside yet another date...April 14, also known as "Black Day." On that date, such individuals get together and partake of Jajang noodles, which are black in color, hence the name of the day.

TAIWAN
Valentine's Day is celebrated in Taiwan on February 14, but there is also a special Valentine's Day on July 7 of the lunar calendar, based on an ancient Chinese folk tale. Both dates are equally as important. Many men purchase expensive bouquets of roses and other flowers for their sweethearts on these days. According to Taiwan tradition, the color and number of the roses holds much significance. For example, one red rose means "an only love," eleven roses means "a favorite," ninety-nine roses means "forever," and one hundred eight roses means "marry me."

CHINA
In Chinese Culture, there is a similar counterpart of the Valentine's Day. It is called "The Night of Sevens", on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar; the last one being August 11, 2005 [2]. (A slightly different version of this day is celebrated in Japan as Tanabata, on July 7th (the same day, but transcribed to the solar calendar)).

GREAT BRITAIN
In Great Britain on Valentine's Day Eve, women used to pin four bay leaves to the corners of their pillow and eat eggs with salt replacing the removed yokes. They believed they would then dream of their future husbands. Also, women used to write their lover's names on paper and put them on clay balls which they would drop into the water. They believed that whichever paper came up first, that man would be their future husband.

DENMARK
In Denmark, people swap poems and candy snowdrops. Some people also send, not serious love notes, but laughable notes which are called gaekkebrev (joking letters). On the gaekkebrev, the sender signs his or her name in dots. If the receiver guesses the correct name then the sender will get a candy egg at Easter time.

GERMANY, AUSTRIA, USA, & SPAIN
Germans, Austrians and some Americans who share this tradition give roses, chocolates etc to their wives. In other countries such as Spain, the wives give gifts to the husband while the husband gives flowers to his wife.

ITALY
In Italy, it is a tradition to get engaged on Valentine's Day, February 14. Some shops sell china baskets and cups which are filled with Valentine candies and tied with ribbon which you can give as Valentine presents.

IRAN
In Persian Culture (Iran) this popular date is discreetly celebrated by most lovers despite the disapproval of such occasion by the hardline Islamic government as a copycat of the west, but Persian youths and adults manage to celebrate following the traditions of the west disregarding the limitations and restrictions imposed by the government.

BRAZIL
In Brazil, there is no such day as Valentine's Day. Instead, on June 12, "Dia dos Namorados" (lit. "Day of the enamored", or "Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Day") is celebrated. On this day, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, exchange gifts (lingerie, chocolates, and more), cards and usually a flower bouquet. This day is chosen probably because it is one day before the Saint Anthony's day, there known as the marriage saint, when many single women perform popular rituals in order to find a good husband (or, more modernly, a boyfriend).

COLOMBIA
In Colombia, the "Día del amor y la amistad" (lit. "Love and Friendship Day") is celebrated on the third Friday and Saturday in September, because of commercial issues. In this country the Amigo secreto ("Secret friend") tradition is quite popular, which consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).

MEXICO
In Mexico, the "Día del amor y la amistad" is celebrated similar to Colombia but this one falls on February 14.

FINLAND
In Finland, Valentine's Day is called "Ystävänpäivä" which translates into Friend's day. As the name says the day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.

SLOVENIA
In Slovenia, a proverb says that St Valentine brings the keys of roots so on 14th February plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Nevertheless, it has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love is traditionally 12th March, the Saint Gregory's day. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" (Valentine-first man of spring), as in some places (especially White Carniola) Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

Facts & Legends

The reason for St. Valentine's fame in one story is that he broke Roman law and married people in secret. Christian legend says that Valentine’s Day is the Feast of St. Valentine. In 270 A.D., the Roman Emperor Claudius II did not want any marriages to take place during wartime. He believed married men made poor soldiers. But Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed wedding ceremonies. Valentine was jailed and then executed on February 14, by order of the Emperor. Hence, the name and celebration of love on February 14.
In another story he was a priest that also cared for the sick. In this story he was executed merely for his beliefs.
In either case on the day he was to be executed (February 14) he had a visitor and gave her a note to reassure her that said "from your Valentine" -- this seems to be the origin of the tradition.
In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to: teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts
The expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve" comes from a Valentine's Day party tradition. Young women would write their names on slips of paper to be drawn by young men. A man would then wear a woman's name on his sleeve to claim her as his valentine.
People also believed that birds began mating on February 14. The idea of lovebirds soon became associated with Saint Valentine, and the custom of sending cards or small gifts on his feast day is centuries' old.
As for the heart-shape cards: Since ancient times, the heart has symbolized love, both human and divine.
15% of US women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
The record for the most couples kissing at once is 1600.
Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday in the United States.
In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, 'You unlock my heart!'
Red roses are the single most popular flower to give on Valentine's Day.
Chinese Valentine's Day is not celebrated on February 14, but on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year it will be August 25.

How "I LOVE YOU" is said around the world: