14 February in different countries

The last month of winter does not spoil us with an abundance of holidays. Therefore, young people happily picked up the idea - on February 14 to celebrate Valentine's Day, or Valentine's Day, borrowed from Western foreign countries. On this holiday, there is an opportunity to openly, without hesitation, declare your feelings. Flowers, candlelight dinners, romantic valentines and many more pleasant surprises that a couple in love make to each other are associated with him.

However, it is very interesting and informative to find out what other holidays fall on this day, how Valentine's Day is celebrated in other countries and whether this holiday is recognized in principle. After all, each state has its own traditions, customs, peculiarities of celebrating days. A short tour of the most famous cities and countries will give you the opportunity to understand this in more detail.

Traditionally, February 14 is associated with declarations of love and romantic gifts. However, many more holidays are celebrated on this day, which few people know about. Among the many unexpected celebrations that fall on this date, the following can be distinguished.

• Programmer's day. Although the holiday is unofficial, this does not diminish its importance for the programmers themselves and for everyone who has at least something to do with working with computer technology. This professional holiday has been celebrated since 1946, when the first computer was presented to the world.

• In Japan on this day, there is a festival of naked men, or Hadaka Matsuri From the clothes on the representatives of the strong half of humanity on this day, you can see only a loincloth - fundoshi.This eccentric, entertainment event has a good reason - representatives of the strong half of humanity, aged 23 to 43, undergo a ritual of purification, plunging into ice water on the way to the temple.

• In Bulgaria, it is customary to celebrate February 14 Winegrower Day. According to legend, after pests attacked all the vineyards of the country, people turned to the martyr-priest Tryphon for help. On February 14, he blessed the gardens, thereby saving all residents from poverty and misery.

• Catholics commemorate Saints Cyril and Methodius - educators, founders of the Slavic alphabet.

According to legend, Valentine is a Roman Christian priest who, contrary to the prohibition of the ruler of Rome, secretly conducted wedding ceremonies for young couples, supported them and helped in every way. For disobedience, the priest was arrested and sentenced to death. While imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of the guard guarding him. Valentine managed to heal her, after which she converted to the Christian faith.

By order of the emperor, the priest was executed for this on February 14. On the same day, before his death, he left a letter to his beloved, where he confessed his feelings. At the bottom of the message was the signature "Your Valentine".

There is no doubt that most of us associate France with romance, beauty, sophistication and charm. Before February 14, even the air in this city takes on a dreamy hue. All shop windows, boutiques and shopping centers are full of angels with the image of Cupid, hearts, flowers. Many people, in order to propose to their loved one, which will be remembered for a lifetime, do it on Valentine's Day.

There has long been a stereotype that the British are poor in expressing feelings. However, on Valentine's Day, even they are able to surprise their loved ones. For a long time, on the eve of February 14, a man tried to leave a gift at the door of a girl he liked. If she reciprocated and accepted the present, then in return she handed over an apple, which is considered a symbol of love and beauty.

To this day, the custom of fortune telling on February 14 has been preserved in Great Britain. In the morning, a girl runs up to the window and looks out at her betrothed - which guy passes first, he will be her sweetheart. Young people still believe that it is on Valentine's Day that they are most likely to meet their soul mate.

Romance is a spiritual need of Italians, who show it everywhere: in music, cinema, books, food. Therefore, it is not surprising that the holiday of lovers in this country is especially loved and revered. A well-known chocolate maker specially for this day created sweets in a bright red wrapper, inside which are written love notes with confessions.

Therefore, it is still believed that this day is very auspicious for starting a family. Lovers exchange wedding rings, make each other romantic dates, give various lovely gifts.

A special feature of February 14 in Germany is that the Germans celebrate not only the day of lovers, but also of the mentally ill.

Preparations for celebrating Valentine's Day in Germany begin in a few days. The Germans, serious and pedantic in character, with delight, trepidation and their inherent organization, begin to acquire gifts for their loved ones, think over every little thing of a romantic surprise.

Getting ready for the holiday of love in Spain begins a few months before, regularly visiting shops and souvenir markets in search of original gifts.Not only unmarried young people are preparing for the celebration, but also those who have lived with each other for more than one year. On this day, married couples devote themselves exclusively to each other, discuss past and present events, make plans for the future, thereby expressing boundless devotion and trust to the chosen one.

Scotland, which looks like a fairy-tale country on Valentine's Day, can be an example of how to celebrate Love Day. People of all ages gather in groups, arrange loud and cheerful celebrations, glorifying one of the most beautiful feelings of humanity - love.

Celebrating Valentine's Day in America is not much different from this action in other Western countries. Couples give each other classic gifts: sparkling wines, flowers, jewelry, sweets in the shape of a heart, which symbolize the full return of feelings and emotions to their soul mate.

Themed events are held in schools on this day: scenes, plays, performances. Each class is decorated with lace and paper cut hearts, and friends and teachers are presented with handmade cards and gifts.

In Russia, on Valentine's Day, all kinds of concerts, music and entertainment programs are organized, which are attended with pleasure not only by young people, but also by the older generation. Shops before the holiday offer a huge number of gift items that have a theme.

Popular gifts include cosmetics, bijouterie, jewelry, flowers, sweets. The main thing is that the chosen gift is to the liking of your loved one.

Paper postcards are a thing of the past, their place is firmly taken by electronic counterparts.

Valentine's Day in the Netherlands is celebrated by few, considering it a commercial move, not a holiday. However, there are those who are happy to surprise and delight their soul mate on February 14th.

The Dutch are unpretentious in the choice of gifts, considering that flowers and chocolate are quite an acceptable option. Moreover, the Netherlands has no shortage of flowers: in numerous flower shops you can order any composition. Especially romantic natures have the opportunity to participate in the process of creating sweets for their beloved in chocolate workshops.

For hot and emotional Brazilians, Valentine's Day is another reason for passionate lovers and romantics to show their feelings. They arrange lavish romantic candlelit dinners, present their loved ones with various gifts. Lonely young people exchange Cupid figures, expressing their sympathy in this way. Married couples give each other greeting cards.

On February 14, Thai people give each other gifts. But in recent years, there has been a tendency to present hearts and bouquets made from banknotes, the denomination of which can be different.

Valentine's Day in Singapore is nationwide and is turning into a mega-event. Concerts, fashion shows, music festivals and nightly shows attract many tourists to the country, with whom Singaporeans happily share the day.

It is believed that if you tie the knot on this day, your family life will be happy and long. Therefore, on February 14, there is a real excitement for wedding ceremonies.

Flowers, namely red roses and tulips, are of particular importance on Valentine's Day. They testify to the passionate feelings that a man has in relation to his beloved.

A Greek man, giving a woman a Valentine's Day gift, believes he is singing a love song to her.However, she also likes to receive gifts in return, which should be more practical than romantic. Young people spend the whole day together, no matter where: at home, lounging on the couch, or in the cinema watching a fascinating movie.

Valentine's Day in India is a truly enchanting holiday, and they begin to prepare for it in advance. Numerous festivals, shops replete with all kinds of souvenirs and gifts in the form of hearts and Cupid figurines, funny contests - this is not the whole list of entertainment activities that take place on this day.

Everyone puts on their most beautiful outfit, thus demonstrating their attitude towards a loved one. Hotels and restaurants where young people plan to celebrate the holiday are booked a month in advance.

In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated 2 times: February 14 is a men's holiday, and March 14 is a women's holiday, the so-called White Day. Japanese women give chocolate to men. At the same time, there are two types of it: one is intended for relatives, friends and acquaintances, and the second is for beloved men.

Valentine's Day gifts can be anything from cute knick-knacks to high-value items and presents. In any case, a gift is a manifestation of warm, heartfelt feelings for the chosen one or the chosen one.

Flowers, perfumes, sweets, jewelry, which are relevant in any case, are especially popular. The main thing is that the loved one is satisfied and appreciates the efforts of his partner.

Valentine's Day is a controversial holiday that is solemnly and ceremonially celebrated only in some countries. However, he is another reason to surprise and please a loved one, having heard from him in response such necessary words for every person: "I love you."

As celebrated on February 14 in different countries, see the video.