Destinations • February 2014
Beyond a dozen red roses
Thought Valentine’s Day politics were complex enough? How about having to write a personalised poem, sending a coded message with roses or letting your grandparents find you a partner? The Club rounds up some courtship traditions from all over the world
Brazil
Dia dos Namorados (Day of the Enamoured) is celebrated on 12 June in Brazil. Young women write down the names of their crushes on pieces of paper, fold them up and place them in a hat. They then select a random name, which indicates the one they should marry.
China
In some cities in China, those too busy to look for a date can get handwritten adverts clipped up in public areas such as parks – by their grandparents. Yes, Chinese elders help out their younger family members by finding love for them.
Denmark
In Denmark, men present a special lover’s poem, called a gækkebrev, to their admirer, signed anonymously using a dot for each letter of his name. The woman is supposed to guess the author of the poem, and if she guesses correctly, then she’ll be given an Easter egg in the spring.
Taiwan
The day of love is celebrated twice during the year in Taiwan. Once on 14 February and once on 7 July. On these two days, men send their loved ones red roses, but not the usual dozen. In fact, the number of roses sent is like a code: one rose means your partner views you as his one and only love, 11 means you are his favourite, 99 roses means his love is forever and 100 is a marriage proposal.
South Africa
Putting a twist on the ancient festival of Lupercalia, many South African women wear their hearts on their sleeves. Literally. In some cases, men discover their secret admirer by spying their own name on a woman’s shirt sleeve.
Japan
In Japan, women buy the gifts for Valentine’s Day, presenting men with chocolates. The type given depends on the relationship – with friends, relatives and even colleagues all receiving something. A month later, men present their special lady with something in return, but it has to be two or three times more expensive than the gift they received.
South Korea
In South Korea they take this one step further. On 14 April, people who didn’t receive a gift meet up at restaurants to eat jajangmyeon (noodles in a black bean sauce), to celebrate or mourn their single status.
This article has been tagged Destination, Culture