Valentine’s Day Around the World

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! It's time to celebrate your loved ones with chocolates and other surprises. NIS has many different cultures with many different traditions. While some celebrate them while others don’t,  here are some of the traditions in cultures that do. Here are just a few-

Brazil-

Dia dos Namorados (the “Day of the Enamoured”) is celebrated in Brazil on the 12th of June. Being a Brazilian festival, this isn’t a small celebration or a quiet day. Expect big dances, music, lots of food and epic parties if you’re in the country on this day of love! Brazil’s Valentine’s Day is celebrated later in the year than the European version. This is because the Day of St Anthony (the patron saint of marriages) is on the 13th, and this is seen as an auspicious time to extol a relationship whether the couple is married or unmarried. As well as the parties – large affairs which generally involve friends and family members of the happy couples – and the exchanging of gifts, sending your intended series of messages throughout the day is a traditional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Brazil. It reminds your loved one of what they have to look forward to 

later on!

Spain-

Not content with one celebration of love, Spain – which, after all, speaks one of the commonly agreed languages of love – has several, depending on which part of the country you’re in. Much like the UK, Catalonia celebrates St George’s Day (“La Dia de Sant Jordi“) on April 23rd, as the dragon-slaying knight is their patron saint too. Here, it’s not only the National Day of Catalonia but also a traditional time for lovers to exchange gifts too. In this case, that gift is traditionally a book. While a work of literature might not be something that goes with the knight in shining armour vibe, the link seems to be that it was also on the 23rd of April, the date when William Shakespeare died, closely preceded by Spain’s most famous writer Cervantes the day before – both in the year 1616! Thus, giving someone a gift is a reminder of romantic works. It’s worth noting that Valencia also has a second Valentine’s Day. This is the Day of San Dionisio or Sant Dionís on October 9th. Here, you’re likely to get a slightly more tasty bit of fruit-shaped marzipan as a Valentine’s Day gift, especially if you’re male.

China-

In the counties of Taijian and Jianhe in the Guizhou Province in China, you’ll find the Miao people, a minority ethnic group. Their celebration of love and spring, the Sisters’ Meal Festival celebrated between 30th April and 2nd of May, has become something of a tourist magnet in recent years. The event presents quite the spectacle, with bright traditional costumes, singing and dancing in a question and answer format between  single men and women, as well as bullfighting and horse racing. The origins of the festival go back to folklore surrounding two childhood friends who grow up and fall in love but are forbidden to marry. In the tale, the girl brings the boy a hidden meal of specially flavoured rice to display her affection at their secret meetings. The term gad liangl or “hidden meal” has entered the Miao language as a term vaguely equivalent to “secret admirer,” though in this case you actually have to take a secret meal to the one you admire to show your affections.

Traditionally during festival time, younger girls go out to collect flowers and leaves in order to make natural food coloring to brighten up the coloured rice, which is cooked as part of the festival to link in with the story. The rice is dyed blue, pink, yellow, and white to represent the seasons of the year. After cooking, this rice is gathered by the single woman who can present a bowl of it to a single man with a gift to show her intentions.

Valentine’s Day Foods

Today’s Valentine’s is usually just a box of chocolates, but different cultures also have different foods that we might want to try on our next Valentine’s Day.

South Africa: Marshmallow Pies - A classic dessert made of marshmallow, chocolate, and wafer, marshmallow pies are an integral part of Valentine’s Day celebrations in South Africa. Whip up a batch of your own and treat your sweetie to the kind of fluffy filling dreams are made of.

Egypt: Fatteh and Kahk- In Egypt, a main dish called Fatteh consists of spice-boiled lamb or beef (or other proteins) served over a bed of rice alongside toasted pita bread and a garlicky tomato sauce. For dessert, there’s a traditional cookie known as Kahk, which is filled with nuts or dates and dusted with powdered sugar.

Australia: Biscoff-filled Hot Cross Buns - Commonly served as an Easter treat in Australia, Biscoff-Filled Hot Cross Buns have been stealing the show on Valentine’s Day. Fluffy, warm, and soft, these beautiful, buttery buns are filled with Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread for an irresistible treat.