While the arrival of Valentines Day will be filling us all s with horror, fear, excitement, apprehension or disinterest, here at HCX we decided to take a slightly more analytical look at this notorious holiday. We will all have an accurate idea of how our own V-day will pan out, so now how about taking a mini trip around the world to see how different cultures celebrate their holiday of love. Originally celebrated in the Western world, this one-day festival of love dedicated to expressing your romantic feelings for those you love has spread to the Eastern parts of the world, where different cultures have built on the Western traditions and added some of their ownā¦ Sit tight and enjoy the ride!
South Africa
The celebration for this day of expressing love for those dear to you start weeks in advance in South Africa ā Shops and markets adorn themselves in flowers and ribbons, as well as cupid symbols, love birds and heartsā¦ And we thought the English were over the top! Everyone groups together on beaches and other romantic places of the country to celebrate the festival of love on the 14th February every year. Alike in the UK, couples go out together for dinner, although often grouping together with other couples and friends to celebrate their love for one another. Some young girls celebrate the occasion by honouring an old-age Roman festival called Lupercalia in which young women and men pin their names to their loversā sleeves, openly and expressly acknowledging their deep feelings for each other.
India
Following economic globalisation and the emergence of a class of neo-rich, a new culture of fancy dinners and dance clubs was brought to the beautiful country of India, along with foreign satellite channels devoting commercial breaks to Valentineās Day, and expensive card shops selling out due to peopleās desire to show their loved ones how they feel. Love letter competitions and sweet Romeos roaming the streets of town weeks before the Day arrives, India has definitely left behind their traditional feelings of offence and disapproval of public displays of affection, and latched onto the commercial hype of the most romantic day of the year.
China
Otherwise known as the Qixi festival, or the Double Seven festival, Valentineās Day in China is traditional and customarily cultural, with people in love attending the Temple of Matchmaker and praying for their love and possible marriage. The same goes for those Chinese singletons, who go to the temple to ask their luck of love from the Gods. On the night of Qixi, instead of exchanging gifts and cards to their loved ones, women wash their hair to give it a fresh and shiny look (as if Chinese femalesā hair isnāt beautiful and glossy enough?!) and demonstrate their domestic arts, especially melon carvingā¦
Sweden
In the depths of beautiful Scandinavia, Valentines day is a lot less commercialized than us Brits are used to; as oppose to obsessive gift giving, a Swedish lady can expect a romantic dinner for her man. But lets not forget that Stockholm is also the singles capital of the world (it has the most single people per square metre) so for most ladies, V-day is characterized by āsingeltons partiesā which include vigorous dancing, heavy intoxication and hard-core partying, just doing what Swedes do best then!
Italy
While initially celebrated at an open air Spring Festival, in which people would gather in tree and flower adorned gardens to hear romantic poetry and music, Valentine’s Day in modern Italy caters to a much more mainstream audience. You can expect all the cheesiness and roses of any other country, just with better wine and a potential spaghetti re-enactment of that unforgettable Lady and the Tramp moment. Presents are a must, and the most traditional is Peruginaās chocolate Baci (Chocolate kisses) in which each foil-covered delicacy holds a message of loveā¦ molto romantico!
UK
As many of you readers know, Valentine’s day in the UK is the chocolate-filled, flower-adorned, card-receiving holiday every single girl loves to hate. Whether your V-day is spent drowning your sorrows with our good friend Bridget, or adoringly gazing across a candlelit dinner at the current Mr Right, most of us Brits enjoy commemorating or celebrating this holiday in good company!
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Photo credits
http://newshopper.sulekha.com/…
http://www.blurtit.com/q461803…
https://somethingswedish.wordp…