Valentine’s Day is about the celebration of love. Did you know that people in different countries celebrate it differently? Some celebrations might even surprise you! So, let’s take a short journey to these countries and find out some interesting facts about Valentine’s Day.
According to legend (there are many legends as you will see), originally a holiday of Spring, St. Valentine’s Day started in Italy. Young people gathered together in the gardens and enjoyed listening to music and reading poetry. In time this tradition faded away.
Couples that got engaged tried to tell everybody about their engagement on this day.
A week or two before the holiday, stores were filled with sweets. China baskets and cups tied with ribbon and filled with delicious candies were quite popular.
One of the favorites in Italy is “Baci Perugina” – hazelnuts covered with chocolate. Yummmm….Each of these elegantly wrapped candies has a short love letter inside that is translated into four different languages.
Valentine’s Day is very popular in Australia and not just for lovers! Australians use this holiday to better relationships with their family, meet with friends and talk to colleagues.
They say that during Gold Rush in Australia, when citizens of Ballarat became very rich, they started ordering very expensive Valentines. The most expensive were: personalized satin pillows, perfumes and birds of paradise.
In England, on February 14th, unmarried girls get up before the sunrise, stand next to the window and look at the men walking by. They believe that the first man they see is their destiny. The most popular gifts on this day in England are heart-shaped candies, teddy bears and Valentine cards.
In Germany, until recently St. Valentine was not considered to be the patron of love, but…the patron of mentally challenged people. Germans used to decorate hospitals with scarlet ribbons and had special services in churches. Now, it is known as a Valentinstag and it is celebrated in a way similar to America. It is customary for young men to give flowers to their sweethearts.
In Holland it is not considered shameful if on this day a woman asks a man to marry her. If man says “no”, he has to give her a silk dress. Imagine that!
In India, people recently started celebrating St. Valentine’s Day, and it becomes more popular each year. The spirit of this holiday is noticeable a couple of weeks before with TV, radio and newspapers start advertising 14th of February. Stores are filled with roses, angels, teddy bears, and are decorated with ribbons. A lot of people get engaged on this day.
One of the most original celebrations of Valentine’s Day is in Japan. The highlight of the holiday is “The Loudest Confession of Love”. A special place is constructed, where people stand and one by one tell the whole world about their feelings for one another. Isn’t it interesting to note that on Valentine’s Day only men receive gifts? A month later, on March 14th, men give gifts to women. The most popular choice is white chocolate, because the 14th of March is called “White Day”.
In Spain, the day of love is on May 1st, and in Brazil it is celebrated on June 12th.
Valentine’s Day was brought to USA by the first immigrants from England and quickly became popular. Stores are filled with heart-shaped candies, cards, red ribbons, white ribbons, and pink ribbons, personalized gifts, chocolate and roses. A great personal touch to any gift is personalized ribbon with your sentiment and/or name on it whether it is sweet, silly, funny, unique, or a personal “code” you share.
In Medieval Europe ladies used to give red ribbons to knights that participated in contests as a symbol of their love. The knights attached the ribbons and trinkets to their spears for good luck.
In our time, people of all ages have a variety of gifts to choose from. Some prefer to personalize them by putting their names or the names of their loved ones on personalized ribbons, chocolates, and personalized gifts.
See some interesting ideas for embellishing your gifts and packages….
Please visit our website for some original gifts and ideas to make this and any holiday special!
http://www.personalizedjustforu.com/personalized-ribbon/valentine-personalized-ribbon
