Valentines Day Traditions
Old Valentines Day Traditions
Valentines Day originated from the Roman festival the Lupercalia.
Eligible men picked young ladies names out of bowls. they formed a couple for
the duration of the festivities and sometimes beyond the men wore the
name of their partner on their sleeve for the duration of the festivities. Ever heard of
wearing your heart on your sleeve? Well this is where it comes from.
This custom lasted from before the Roman civilization to the 17th century
with only a break of a few hundred years when the church prevented it.
See Valentines Day History.
In Wales wooden spoons were carved, often as hearts, keys or key holes.
The spoons were given to a chosen one on Valentines Day to suggest the sentiment you
unlock my heart.
Valentines Day in Austria and Germany
In countries such as Austria and Germany it has long been the tradition for
men to buy their sweethearts flowers on Valentines Day.
Particular attention being paid to the kind
of flowers she likes.
Valentines Day in Japan
In Japan Valentines Day is celebrated in an entirely different way.
Ladies buy chocolate for men. There are two kinds of chocolate
kiri-choco which is bought for friends amd acquaintences and has no
romantic conotations at all and hon-mei which is bought for a boy friend,
lover or husband and is a gift inspired by romance.
Exactly one month
later it is the turn of the men to reciprocate. White Day on March 14th
is a day when men give gifts of chocolate to all the ladies who remembered
them on Valentines Day, the chocolate is often white due to the name of the day.
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Valentine Links
All about Valentines Day
Valentines Day Traditions
Valentines Day History
Valentine Card History
St. Valentine the legend
St. Valentine
Writing Valentines
Valentine Cards
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