China

The Qixi Festival or “The Night of Seven,” is usually celebrated in early August on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Girls pray to find good husbands and offer fruits and carve melons for Zhinu, the ancient goddess of love and relationships.

Japan

 Girls give the traditional “Giri Choco” to male friends and colleagues. To show they have feelings for someone, they will include a handmade gift plus the “Honmei Choco.”  A month later on March 14, boys have to return the gift with chocolate. This day is called “White Day.”

Korea

 Koreans also commemorate “White day,”  but they also observe “Black Day” on April 14 when singles get together to eat jajangmyeon noodles to share in their pity. Some of them even dress in black as well.

Argentina

Argentinians set aside seven days in July for “sweetness week”  from July 13 to the 20. This week usually ends with “Friendship Day.”

Germany

In Germany, lovers exchange candies, chocolates and a pig. The pig represents luck and lust and can be given in picture form as a miniature statue in chocolate. 

Italy

In Italy, they celebrate with the Spring Festival. On Valentine’s day, couples get together to enjoy music, poetry and exchange gifts like the baci perugina, a box of small hazelnut-filled chocolate. According to an old tradition, the first man a girl sees on Valentine’s Day will become his wife, and they will be married within a year.

Chile

Dia de San Valentin is celebrated with decorations covering shops, malls, street restaurants, pubs, clubs, travel agencies, and hotels. Flowers, chocolates, love letters and jewels are typical gifts. 

Brazil

The local equivalent to Valentine’s Day is “Dia dos enamorados” or Lovers day and is on June 12. Musical performances are often held throughout cities and towns, bringing together couples and families. Brazilians also celebrate Saint Anthony’s Day, which commemorates the patron saint of marriage. On this day, singles perform different rituals to enhance their chances of finding a good husband or wife.

Taiwan

This country celebrates Valentine’s Day on February 14 and July 7. According to Taiwanese tradition, the men present flowers to their beloved that say different things depending on how many are presented. One red rose says “an only love,” 11 roses is “a favorite,” 99 roses means “love forever,” and 108 roses signifies “Will you marry me?”

France

Valentine’s Day can trace its roots back to France; where the Duke of Orleans wrote the first Valentine’s Card, a poem signed as “Your Valentine.”

Wales

People in Wales celebrate Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, on January 25. The romantic tradition of Wales is the love spoon. Welsh men carve intricate wooden spoons as a token of affection for the women they care about. Often personalized symbols are carved into certain objects, some examples are horseshoes, which stand for good luck; wheels, which symbolize support; and keys, which symbolize the keys to a man’s heart.

South Africa

For women in South Africa, it is customary to wear hearts on their sleeves on February 14 with the names of their love interest on their shirtsleeves.This tradition was started by an ancient Roman tradition known as Lupercalia.