Getting hitched is an expensive affair!
The equivalent of Valentine's Day in China is Qixi, or the Seventh Night Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. During this day, young women prepare offerings of melon and other fruits to Zhinu in hopes of finding a husband. Couples head to temples to pray for happiness and prosperity.
Argentinians don't traditionally celebrate Valentine’s Day in February. Instead, they celebrate their love during the "Week of Sweetness" in July. Lovers exchange gifts and chocolates, and other romantic gestures.
With Carnival held sometime in February or March each year, Brazilians skip the February 14 celebration and instead celebrate Dia dos Namorados, or Lovers' Day, on June 12. People exchange chocolates, cards, and flowers.
Valentine's Day traditions in Australia look similar to that of other countries around the world. However, they add in week-long music festivals in major cities.
See also: Valentine's Day–Surprise your partner with these romantic ideas
In the Czech Republic, Valentine's Day is celebrated on May 1. On this day, young couples kiss under the cherry trees for good luck.
A popular Danish Valentine's Day tradition is the exchange of "lover's cards." While these were originally transparent cards that showed a picture of the card giver presenting a gift to their sweetheart, the term is now synonymous with any card exchanged on Valentine's Day.
Back in the day, women placed bay leaves on their pillows on Valentine’s Eve to bring dreams of their future husbands. Today, couples get romantic with gift exchanges and romantic dinners.
Pigs are considered a symbol of luck in Germany, so it's not uncommon to give and receive pig statues, stuffed animals, and more on Valentine's Day.
In Thailand’s Prachinburi province, couples who get married around Valentine’s Day often take part in a mountainside ceremony that involves climbing scary heights.
Similar to South Korea, Japanese women buy gifts and chocolates for their male companions on February 14. Men can't return gifts until March 14.
Italians celebrate Valentine's Day with gift exchanges and romantic dinners. One of the most popular Valentine's Day gifts is Baci Perugina, which are small, chocolate-covered hazelnuts wrapped with a romantic quote printed on them.
Instead of exchanging roses, many Peruvians opt for orchids, a flower native to the country. They even hold mass weddings to accommodate all the couples wanting to get married on the most romantic day of the year.
Norwegians have a tradition of writing poems to their beloved, and pressing a small white Snowdrop flower inside the paper.
Celebrated on February 24, it's a popular day for young couples to get engaged. Some couples even wash their faces with snow as a sign of good luck.
Valentine’s Day is a popular occasion for mass weddings where hundreds, sometimes even thousands, will tie the knot. These huge events are often sponsored by the government.
In Mexico, February 14 is called El Dia del Amor y la Amistad, or the Day of Love and Friendship. They celebrate similarly to other countries but with a Mexican twist.
Valentine's Day is a popular holiday for young couples in South Korea, and variations of the holiday are celebrated from February through April. It starts on February 14, when women woo their men with chocolates, candies, and flowers. On March 14, it's the men's turn. And for those who are single, April 14 is their day.
Like many parts of the world, South Africa celebrates Valentine's Day with flowers and other tokens of love. It's also customary for women to pin the names of their love interest on their shirtsleeves.
In Taiwan, men will give huge bouquets to their loves on February 14 and later again on July 7. And if you receive a bouquet with exactly 108 roses, someone is asking you to marry them!
In Sweden, Valentine’s Day is called alla hjärtans dag, which means "All Hearts' Day." Celebrated since the '60s, people exchange sweet pastries, candies, and jelly hearts.
Couples in the US go all out in displaying their fondness for each other. Every year, Americans spend around US$25.9 billion on candy, cards, chocolates, flowers, and jewelry.
People in Wales celebrate Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, on January 25. One traditional romantic Welsh gift is a love spoon, which men originally carved for the women they loved. Today, they're also exchanged for celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries, and births.
Since Ghana is the second-largest cocoa exporter in the world, in 2005 they decided to declare February 14 National Chocolate Day. Delicious!
On April 23, in Catalonia, they celebrate Valentine’s Day and World Book Day all wrapped into one. Known as the festival of Saint Jordi, women receive a rose, while men receive a book.
In Slovenia, St. Valentine is one of the patron saints of spring. There's a popular belief that birds propose to each other on February 14, and to witness this one must walk barefoot through fields.
Do you know that not every country turns to these traditions to declare love, or even celebrate it on February 14? Some exchange wooden spoons and orchids, while others hold a special holiday for the loveless to mourn their single lives.
Click on to explore some unique Valentine’s Day traditions from around the world.
For anyone who is single, Finland is the place to be! Valentine's is all about celebrating with your friends. The day is even called Friend’s Day in Finnish.
On February 14, Estonia celebrates Friendship Day, known as Sõbrapäev. The day is for everyone, couples and singles, to celebrate love.
Valentine’s traditions around the world
Have you ever wondered how this day is celebrated around the world?
LIFESTYLE Romance
Do you know that not every country turns to these traditions to declare love, or even celebrate it on February 14? Some exchange wooden spoons and orchids, while others hold a special holiday for the loveless to mourn their single lives.
Click on to explore some unique Valentine’s Day traditions from around the world.