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Valentine's Day originated in the beautiful country of Italy. On this day, Italians choose Bacio Perugina to give to their loved ones. This is a hazelnut-filled chocolate wrapped in foil, accompanied by a love poem written in 4 languages. According to Italian custom, giving hazelnut-filled chocolate carries a great sentimental meaning.
According to Italian custom, giving hazelnut-filled chocolate carries a great sentimental meaning
Usually, Italians also view Valentine's Day as an occasion to celebrate the spring festival. Young couples will gather in the garden, read poetry, listen to music, and then go for a walk with their lover.
England
England is one of the first countries where Valentine's Day originated. The traditional gift in England for this Valentine's occasion is not chocolate or roses, but silver spoons. Couples often exchange a set of silver spoons engraved with key and lock symbols, symbolizing sending the key to open their hearts to their other half. To this day, the key symbol has spread to France, South Korea, Hungary... Lovers believe that locking a red heart-shaped padlock onto a bridge of love and throwing the key into the river will help “lock” their love tightly.
However, in some places in England, a rather special custom on Valentine's Day is observed by the people. Valentine's buns are made from caraway seeds, plums, or raisins as a way to celebrate the harvest yield. Due to the nature and timing of the event being quite similar, many writers have compared the Lupercalia festival with St. Valentine's Day.
France
For the French, February arrives and the birds starting to find mates to build nests is a sign that a Valentine's season has begun. Usually on Valentine's Day, lovers will spend their full time with their other half and do things they like such as enjoying a romantic dinner, watching movies together, or going for a walk. Besides chocolate and bouquets of red roses, the favorite Valentine's gift in France is heart-shaped chocolate cakes.
The favorite Valentine's gift in France is heart-shaped chocolate cakes
USA
Americans welcome Valentine's Day in a very modern way. Not only to commemorate St. Valentine and express love to one's lover, the scope of the holiday has been expanded to the maximum to turn this day into a major occasion for many people to confess their thoughts and feelings.
Americans give Valentine's gifts of fresh flowers, chocolate, and sweet candies
Americans often celebrate St. Valentine's Day by sending cards, fresh roses, chocolate, sweet candies, and having dinner or attending dance parties together. However, some also have special ways of organizing, such as holding Valentine's Day discreetly at home or a restaurant with fresh flowers and candies.
South Korea
The custom of women giving sweet candies to their other half in South Korea is on March 14, and men will give gifts back to their girlfriends.
Candy is a meaningful Valentine's gift in South Korea
If the girl does not receive a return gift from the guy, they will eat jajangmyeon noodles with black bean sauce, and for the “singles club“ as well, they will take April 14 as Black Valentine's Day to gather together and eat Jajang noodles, a type of black noodle famous in South Korea.
Japan
On February 14 in Japan, women are the ones who give Valentine's gifts to men. Chocolate also comes in many types with different names for different subjects. For example, Kire chocolate and Giri Chocolate are two types of chocolate intended for friends, family, and male colleagues, with the meaning of showing respect and affection. But if you receive Honmei Chocolate, it means you have received a confession intended only for lovers.
In Japan, chocolate is a meaningful Valentine's gift that women give to men
One month later, on March 14 (also known as White Valentine's Day), guys will reciprocate the affection of the women by giving back white chocolate to the other person. Unlike Italy, Japan does not favor luxury gifts on this occasion.
Source: Compiled
