Valentine’s Day has become a popular celebration across the world. With its origin on the story of a priest who married young couples in secret, this day is all about celebrating love and since love is universal, many countries around the world honor it in different ways.

They say the language of love is universal, yet each culture has some unique traditions. Want to know more? This is what the festivity looks like in different places:

France ~ Je t’aime

Paris is practically the world capital of Valentine’s Day. After all, it’s known as “the city of love”. It’s popular to see locks in different bridges around Paris. In fact, the Pont des Arts used to be the “love lock bridge” before having the locks removed in 2015 due to the weight.

In France, lovers exchange letters, cards, chocolates. There are also different activities honouring love such as weddings, vow renewals or planting trees.

China ~ 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ)

In China, love seekers visit the matchmaker statue in a temple. This statue is said to help people find true love. It’s usual that people offer fruits and carve melons so that Zhinu, the ancient goddess of love and relationships, hears their intentions.

Italy ~ Ti amo

For Italians, the “Day of Lovers”, known as “La Festa Degli Innmorati” is a big celebration. There is a spring festival and, since it’s celebrated only between lovers and sweethearts, couples get together to exchange gifts, or to enjoy music and poetry. Italy has different cities traditionally considered to be the most romantic such as Venice, Florence and, of course, Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Many tourists visit the latter, which has a four-day celebration of events and decorates the Piazza dei Signori with a giant read heart.

Argentina ~ Te amo

Known as “the land of Tango”, Argentina is a country that celebrates love in a big way. Apart from February 14^th, Argentinians have a whole week to celebrate, known as “the sweetness week”. This celebration takes place in July and both lovers and friends exchange candies, chocolates and kisses.

Japan ~ 愛してるよ (ai shiteru yo)

In Japan, the celebration is characterized for chocolate. Girls buy “Giri Choco”, which has no romantic association and is only given to male friends, colleagues, bosses, etc. When girls want to show their affection, they include a handmade gift plus the “Honmei Choco”. As part of the tradition, males return the gift on March 14^th, this is called “White Day” and guys buy chocolates and more.

Germany ~ Ich liebe dich

Though Valentine’s Day is quite popular for Germans, the holiday is not as commercial as in other places. In Germany, lovers exchange flowers or chocolates but there is something even more characteristic: a pig, which is a symbol of love and lust. Lovers exchange gifts of pigs in any form including a miniature statue, a picture, a chocolate, etc.

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