Valentine's Day Traditions Around the World

      Some people are used to the American traditions of Valentine's Day has to offer with

heart shaped chocolate candies and over sized stuffed bears, but not all traditions are alike.



In Denmark, the men do something quite different, much like a secret admirer game. It is known as

"gaekkebrev" that is a humorous letter that the men send to their Valentine. This letter often rhymes

and he signs it with dots leaving his name a mystery to his admirer. Once the woman receives the

letter it is up to her to guess who that person is. If she guesses correct then she is given an Easter egg

 possibly later in the year. They have a different

way of celebrating the holiday by making it a

guessing game rather than just giving gifts.



Now Japan and Korea share similar qualities with Valentine's Day, and it is split up into two days.

February 14 is a day dedicated only to the men where the women is the first to give a gift. On March

14 it is sort of different, in Japan the men give a gift to the women

 and this second date is otherwise known as "White Day." This

 name is said to be given back in the 1960's after a marshmallow

company coined the name. In addition to getting 1 gift, the man

returns the first gift he received on the first date and gives it back

 to the women making it 2 gifts. In Korea, "White Day" is

celebrated with the men declaring their feelings and

expressing their love for the women and this could be for

the first time. They have a third day set up for those who are not

romantically in a relationship called "Black Day" on April 14.

People have get together and dine with Jajang noodles that are give meaning to the name because of 

the black texture of the noodles.



In Scotland the atmosphere is more lively and they hold festivals or small parties for people to mingle

 and meet each other. These people are normally single and they have games that they play where

they write there names in a hat, one for the women and one for the men. They then draw out the


names from the men's hat first and then it's the

women's turn and they go from their. Once

everyone is picked, the pairs spend the rest of the

 day together giving each other gifts and getting

to know each other. The they have dances during

 the festivals and the couples can choose to stay

together after the holiday ends and possibly get

married along the road or more likely to never see each other again.



So as you can see, we are not the only ones that celebrate Valentine's Day with lovey dovy gestures.

Some countries have their own way of showing affection for their loved ones, even if it has a twist.