“…Love, the language of love!” Although the Better Off Dead writers attributed this specific line with an innate sense of irony and humor, Ricky Smith’s mother was not, conceptually, too far off. The day of love and chocolate is upon us once again, and with it comes a reliance on celebration by way of tradition.
Valentine’s Day is rooted in Christianity, dating back to a Christian martyr in the fifth century, and originating from a Roman holiday, Lupercalia. Over the centuries, however, the ideology of Valentine’s Day has permeated many non-Christian cultures across the globe. Despite the international commonalities underlying the holiday itself, the ways in which the holiday is expressed varies between cultures.
Japan opposes many aspects of traditional Valentine’s Day in the United States by placing emphasis on the man instead of the woman. The traditional Japanese gift is chocolate, which is presented to the man by the woman on February 14 to express love or courtesy to the men in their lives. Different kinds of chocolates reflect the varying relationships of the men to the woman. “Giri-choko” is reserved for non-romantic relationships, including bosses, colleagues and family. “Cho-giri choko” is given as an obligatory chocolate to someone who the giver is not particularly fond of, and “honmei-choko” is for the romantic, loving relationships, like that of a boyfriend or husband. South Korea and Taiwan have similar traditions to that of Japan.
Estonia has adapted the Valentine’s Day emphasis on love to apply largely to friendships and familial relationships. The holiday is referred to as Sobrapaev, which translates to “Friend’s Day” in English. Gifts, like flowers, cards and gift baskets, are exchanged, and the country decorates with hearts and other Valentine’s day symbols as part of their overall celebration.
Valentine’s Day in the Philippines has developed the tradition of a mass-wedding celebration. In open spaces throughout the country, couples are married in large public ceremonies, making February 14 the most common anniversary date for Filipino couples. Around 4,000 couples were married on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Denmark and Norway, over the years, have indulged in the tradition of “Gaekkebrev,” which refers to small love poems that men write for women anonymously on Valentine’s Day. The men give the women clues regarding their identity, and if the women guess correctly, they win an Easter Egg on Easter later that year.
The global traditions of Valentine’s Day vary greatly, but the importance of love and relationships, no matter the kind, are consistently emphasized.
