“Where there is love there is life” - Mahatma Gandhi.

These few words reveal to us an incredible truth: without love, we, human beings are unable to survive. Love makes us free, happy and better. Love is indispensable, energy and magic. For this reason we internationally have to celebrate Love; but why did we choose February 14th? Why do we call it Valentine’s Day?

This tradition first started with a love story which ended before it could even start. Imagine that you are living in the Roman Empire during the third Century, when Claudius the Cruel was ruling. Now, imagine that you are a soldier who had to leave your house, your family and your wife in order to fight in the roman army. Surely you would refuse to join the war, but the emperor forbade weddings so that there wouldn’t have been any excuse; it was the end.

But love never fails, Valentine made that love couldn’t fail.

As a priest he started to marry couples in secret and for sometimes the situation was fixed. Soon Claudius found out about his activity and he imprisoned him; there he met Julia, Claudius’s blind daughter who took care of him. To thank her, Valentine prayed for her and performed a miracle when asking God to cure her blindness. After Valentine’s death (February 14th) he became a martyr, Claudius converted to Christianity and Julia was able to read the letter signed with “From your Valentine”.

This is only a legend which makes us dream and look forward to true love, but at the same time it enriches our history and traditions.

Let’s find out how we can celebrate the Day of Love - Valentine’s Day around the world!

South Korea

해피 발렌타인 데이! (haepi ballentain dei!) Happy Valentine's Day!

발렌타인 초콜릿 선물 만들었어요 (ballentain chokollit seonmul mandeureosseoyo) I made this Valentine's chocolate for you

많이 좋아해요 (mani joahaeyo) I like you a lot

In South Korea, Valentine's Day falls on February 14th, and stores are decorated with large displays of popular chocolates and gift baskets, considered ideal gifts for the occasion. Couples usually go on dates and spend time with each other on the romantic day. Women typically make or buy fancy chocolate; if the feelings are reciprocated, the man will give the woman a gift, commonly not as extravagant. Giving coworkers, friends, and family to give and receive gifts is becoming more popular.

But, in South Korea the Day of Love is also celebrated on March 14th and on April 14th!

White Day (March 14th) was initially called Marshmallow Day and is extremely popular in East Asia (celebrated in Japan too). The main difference on White Day is men give women extravagant gifts on this day, and it can be a chance for single men to confess their feelings, similar to women on Valentine's Day.

While Black Day (April 14th) is dedicated to South Koreans who are still in search of their sweet half! Single friends will meet each other to eat jajangmyeon, a noodle dish with dark black sauce, giving Black Day its name. Some Koreans will take it a step further and dress all in black.

South Korea has many beautiful traditions to celebrate love for someone else and a day to celebrate love for yourself.

Uganda

(Luganda) Nkwagala nnyo - I love you very much

As the globe dives into Valentine’s Day festivities, this landlocked country in East Africa takes a different approach to the celebration of love. Being a very modest country, the Ugandan society broadens the concept of love to include all their loved ones, from married couples and those still in their courting phase, to treasured family and friends.

The main actor during this period? Entrepreneurs! That’s right, Valentine’s Day in Uganda is a big profitable opportunity for micro- and macro-businesses alike. Handmade cards add a cute touch to the aesthetics of the day, not to mention the repackaging strategies of jewelers to reflect thoughtfulness and sincere gratitude with roses to accompany their pieces.

Believe it or not, there are entire packaging businesses that take this a step further with money bouquets: multiple notes of 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and, the ultimate deal, 50,000 (roughly $0.5, $1.3, $2.6 and $13) are ornately folded and arranged like flowers in a bouquet. Receiving one of these always means one thing: the conventionally-viewed lucky receiver of affection will spend the next couple of hours peeling at the sticky tape residue with their single friends (as they munch on the accompanying chocolate bars).

As mentioned before, Uganda is a very modest and conservative country, and so the more extravagant practices are popular mainly among the city youth.

Everyone, though, celebrates in their own way. Most families create time within the week to visit amusement parks or family-friendly restaurants for a fun evening out, making the best of Valentine’s Day offers and deals from such institutions.

Argentina

¡Te quiero! ¡Te amo! - I love you

Te amo con todo mi corazón - I love you with all my heart

Argentina doesn’t just celebrate one day of love, instead Argentinians celebrate an entire week of sweetness!

From July 1-7, Argentina celebrates “La Semana de la Dulzura,” also known as “Sweetness Week.” During this week, individuals buy their loved ones candy in exchange for a kiss on the cheek.

In 1989, the week originated as a marketing strategy called “Candy for a Kiss” by Arcor and the Association of Candy Distributors (ADGyA) to encourage Argentinians to buy more candy. The week is a popular time for dating and eating out at romantic restaurants.

All in all, the purpose of the week has evolved as a time when kindness flourishes among all Argentinians.

Spain

(Spanish) ¡Te quiero! ¡Te amo! - I love you

(Catalan) Estic enamorat de tu (m.) /Estic enamorada de tu (f.) - I'm in love with you

While most regions in Spain celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th, some places, such as Aragon and Catalonia, celebrate Valentine’s Day on April 23rd: the Day of Love and Friendship in honor of Saint George.

Legend says that Saint George saved a princess by slaying a dragon. From the dragon’s blood, a red rose emerged that Saint George presented to the princess.

To this day, men continue to give roses to their loved ones. On the other hand, women give books to their family and friends, because the Day of Love and Friendship falls on the same day as the deaths of two famous writers, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare.

In Spain, Valentine’s Day is a time of love and giving amongst friends, family, and loved ones.

Thailand

มาเป็นวาเลนไทน์ของผมได้ไหม (Maa bpen waa-len-thai khǎawng phǒm dâi mǎi) - Will you be my Valentine?

ฉันรักคุณ (chǎn rák khun) - I love you.

Valentine's Day is a significant holiday in Thailand; it is celebrated on February 14th, and you can really feel the love in the air!

Everyone celebrates this Day, youngers too from little elementary to college students by giving heart stickers and wearing them proudly on their uniforms.

In Thailand the main activity is praying at Trimurti Shrine. Trimurti Shrine is located between a shopping mall and a busy street so it’s easy to understand that is anything but romantic, but people make offerings especially roses for love and good luck.

Where can you find roses? At Pak Khlong Talat, a special flower market which booms on Valentine's Day: is filled with younger people to older couples trying to find the perfect flowers to give to their Valentines. The prices of these flowers increase so much because of the high demand.

But the unique aspect of Valentine's Day in Thailand compared to most Asian countries is that LGBTQIA+ people are free to celebrate openly. This makes is a popular place for couples, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, to spend a romantic holiday.

Thailand is a country filled with love, and you can genuinely tell on Valentine's Day.

South Africa

(Zulu) Ngiyakuthanda - I love you

Further down south at the tip of the continent, South Africans carry the holiday with maximalist airs.

To understand this, we must not forget that South Africa is amongst the top tourist destinations in Africa. When tourism interweaves itself with the local scene, therefore, it is not surprising to find that most couples and families opt to travel to various cities during this time such as Cape Town and Knysna, amongst safaris and Kruger National Park visits.

Bringing that typical big South African energy to this cherished February holiday, streets are lined up with flowers and cupids well in advance.

And, as the cities drown in a sea of reds, purples and pinks, a certain old Roman tradition awakens from its slumber: the Lupercalia. This is a practice carried out by mainly young women which involves writing the name of their love interest on a piece of paper and attaching it to their sleeves. Yes, it’s a literal wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve situation. This custom has roots in the commemoration of Saint Valentine, who was executed for performing clandestine marriages outside the Church’s jurisdiction during its rise to popularity in Roman society.

Conclusively, Africa as a whole is diverse not only across countries but also within them. Nevertheless, as we all join in the festivities, let us not forget to acknowledge each and every single person in our lives – especially those of us that live to eat your candies another year!