Valentine’s Day Around the World: A Global Just Bloom Guide
Valentine’s Day, celebrated every year on February 14, has grown into one of the most recognized celebrations of love, romance, and friendship worldwide. Its origins lie in the Western world, with links to both the Christian martyr Saint Valentine and ancient Roman traditions of fertility festivals. Over time, however, the day evolved far beyond its religious or historical roots and became a global expression of affection—adopted, reshaped, and celebrated in distinct ways across cultures.
Today, Valentine’s Day is not just about roses and heart-shaped chocolates. In some countries, it’s about friendship and gratitude. In others, it’s linked to older legends and myths about lovers kept apart. And in many places, the holiday is less about commercial gifts and more about unique rituals that reflect each society’s cultural values.
This Just Bloom HK guide takes you on a journey across the continents to explore how Valentine’s Day is experienced around the world.
North America & Europe
United States & Canada
In the United States and Canada, Valentine’s Day is one of the most commercially successful holidays of the year. Couples often exchange cards—known simply as “valentines”—along with flowers, jewelry, or boxes of chocolates. Romantic dinners in restaurants are almost always fully booked, and many couples use the day to celebrate anniversaries or propose marriage.
Unlike in many countries, Valentine’s Day in the U.S. is also widely celebrated by children. Schools organize classroom parties where kids exchange paper cards, sometimes homemade, decorated with cartoon characters, hearts, and sweet messages. Teachers often receive small gifts or flowers from their students, making it a day of widespread affection beyond romantic love.
United Kingdom
In the U.K., the holiday is celebrated much like in North America, with an emphasis on cards, flowers, and candlelit dinners. Poetry plays a particularly important role here, as the tradition of sending verses and sonnets on Valentine’s Day has deep roots in English literature, dating back to the time of Chaucer and Shakespeare.
A distinctly Welsh twist exists as well: on January 25, the Welsh celebrate St. Dwynwen’s Day. Dwynwen is considered the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and couples often exchange handcrafted wooden love spoons carved with symbols like keys, hearts, or wheels, each with its own meaning.
France
France has long held the reputation of being one of the most romantic places in the world, and Valentine’s Day fits naturally into that image. Couples often mark the occasion with romantic getaways, leisurely meals, or handwritten love letters.
Legend has it that the tradition of sending Valentine’s cards began in France in the 15th century, when the Duke of Orléans, imprisoned in the Tower of London, sent love notes to his wife. Even today, many French people favor personal letters or heartfelt gestures over store-bought cards.
Italy
Italy’s Valentine’s Day combines charm, passion, and a love of beauty. Traditional gifts include chocolates—especially Baci Perugina, small hazelnut chocolates wrapped in multilingual love notes—and fresh red roses. Romantic dinners are a highlight of the day, with restaurants offering multi-course menus accompanied by candlelight.
One unique Italian custom involves couples writing their names on padlocks, fastening them to bridges or gates, and throwing the key into the river as a sign of eternal commitment. This practice, though controversial due to damage caused to historic structures, remains a powerful symbol of love.
Germany
Germany has its own distinctive take on Valentine’s Day. While couples do exchange flowers and chocolates, pigs are also considered a symbol of luck and lust and are sometimes given as tokens of affection—either in figurine form or even incorporated into chocolate treats.
Another popular tradition involves intricately decorated gingerbread cookies shaped like hearts, with affectionate messages written in icing. These are often exchanged between partners, friends, and even children.
Latin America
Mexico
In Mexico, Valentine’s Day is celebrated as Día del Amor y la Amistad—the Day of Love and Friendship. Unlike in the West, where the day is heavily focused on couples, in Mexico it also emphasizes appreciation for friends. People exchange gifts, organize gatherings, and often write heartfelt notes not only to their partners but also to close friends and family.
Brazil
Brazilians do not celebrate Valentine’s Day in February, as it falls too close to the country’s famous Carnival festivities. Instead, they celebrate Dia dos Namorados (“Lovers’ Day”) on June 12. This date coincides with the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day, the patron saint of marriage. Couples exchange gifts, flowers, and chocolates, while cities host music festivals and lively street parties. Single women sometimes perform rituals known as simpatias, meant to bring them good luck in finding a partner.
Colombia
In Colombia, Valentine’s Day is observed in September rather than February. Known as Día del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), it is a day to celebrate both romantic and platonic relationships. The highlight is the popular game amigo secreto (secret friend), similar to Secret Santa. Friends, coworkers, and families draw names and exchange surprise gifts, making the holiday widely inclusive.
Asia
Japan
Japan celebrates Valentine’s Day with a unique twist: women are expected to give chocolates to men. There are two main categories of chocolates:
Giri-choco (“obligation chocolate”), given to male friends, colleagues, or bosses.
Honmei-choco (“true feeling chocolate”), reserved for romantic partners or someone special.
A month later, on March 14, men are expected to return the gesture on White Day. Traditionally, the returned gift should be of higher value than what was originally received, often in the form of expensive chocolates, jewelry, or lingerie.
South Korea
South Korea celebrates Valentine’s Day and White Day in much the same way as Japan. However, the country has expanded the theme further, with special romantic celebrations occurring on the 14th of every month. The most famous of these is Black Day on April 14, when singles who did not receive gifts on Valentine’s or White Day gather to commiserate over bowls of black bean noodles (jajangmyeon).
China
In China, Valentine’s Day is growing in popularity, especially among younger generations in urban areas. Gifts, flowers, and romantic dinners are common. However, a more traditional festival called Qixi, held on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month (usually in August), is considered the true Chinese “Day of Love.” The festival is based on the ancient legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, star-crossed lovers allowed to reunite only once a year.
Philippines
The Philippines is home to one of the most spectacular Valentine’s Day traditions: mass weddings. On February 14, hundreds or even thousands of couples gather in public venues, from shopping malls to parks, to be married or renew their vows in ceremonies sponsored by local governments. This makes the day one of the most significant and widely anticipated holidays in the country.
India
Valentine’s Day in India has grown rapidly in popularity since the 1990s, especially in urban areas where younger generations embrace flowers, chocolates, cards, and romantic dates. However, the holiday remains controversial in some regions, with conservative groups viewing it as a Western import that clashes with traditional Indian values. Despite opposition, the celebration continues to spread, particularly among college students and young professionals.
Middle East & Africa
Israel
In Israel, Valentine’s Day is observed by some, but the Jewish holiday Tu B’Av is regarded as the true day of love. Celebrated in midsummer, Tu B’Av is a time for proposals, weddings, and declarations of affection. Historically, it was a festival where young women dressed in white would dance in vineyards, and men would choose their brides. Today, it’s considered a joyful celebration of love across the country.
Egypt
Egyptians celebrate Valentine’s Day in much the same way as Western countries, with couples exchanging red roses, gifts, and love notes. The holiday is popular among young people, though it sometimes sparks debate among traditionalists who feel it is too Westernized. Still, shops and streets turn red with hearts and roses every February, showing its wide acceptance.
South Africa
In South Africa, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with flowers, chocolates, and public festivals. A fascinating tradition still practiced by some women is pinning the name of their crush to their sleeve, reviving an ancient Roman custom and giving rise to the phrase “wearing your heart on your sleeve.”
Oceania
Australia
In Australia, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with enthusiasm, especially in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Along with the usual exchange of flowers, chocolates, and jewelry, Australians often splurge on luxury gifts such as vacations, spa packages, or fine wine. The country is also known for producing some of the most elaborate and artistic Valentine’s Day cards, a tradition dating back to the 19th century when cards decorated with silk, lace, and ribbons were exchanged.
New Zealand
New Zealanders celebrate Valentine’s Day in much the same way as Australians, with romantic dinners, flower deliveries, and thoughtful gestures. Florists and restaurants see a surge in activity, while many couples choose to enjoy the day outdoors, taking advantage of the country’s natural beauty for picnics, hikes, or seaside strolls.
Just Bloom flower tips
Valentine’s Day is truly a global celebration of love and affection, though it takes on many different forms depending on cultural context. In some places, it’s a day for couples alone, while in others it includes friends, coworkers, and family. Some countries, like Japan and South Korea, stretch the celebration into a series of rituals over several months, while others, like Brazil and Colombia, observe it on entirely different dates.
What unites all these traditions is the human need to express love—whether romantic, platonic, or familial. Valentine’s Day may have Western roots, but its ability to adapt to diverse cultures shows that the language of love is universal.
