As a 4th grade girl, Valentine's Day was a big deal to me. Although I was not brave enough to give chocolate to a boy, the process of preparing the chocolate was still fun. As a child, I was able to go to stores full of candy, pick the perfect one, and think about the boy.
This meaningful day is celebrated worldwide in different forms. My American friend told me that Valentine's Day is when people show their cheesy love to others. In the United States, this day seemed to be a day of a major card and gift giving festival. Valentine's Day dinner and dance parties are organized all over the country. They include cards, fresh flowers, chocolates, and candies.
Canada also celebrates this day with much enthusiasm. Children in Canada exchange gifts with their friends and give fancy card to parents and teachers.
Across the ocean, Australians do the same thing, except men in Australia are more romantic and open about expressing their love than women. They buy more cards than women do.
In Europe, each country has unique way of celebrate. England's custom is the singing of special songs by children. These children are rewarded with gifts of candy, fruit or money.
The tradition in Denmark for Valentine's Day is for people to send white flowers called Snowdrops to their friends.
A custom known as "drawing for" occurs in France as unmarried individuals would go into houses facing each other and begin calling out across from one window to another, pairing off with the chosen partner.
East Asian countries such as Japan, China and Korea celebrate on two different dates. On Valentine's Day, women give their gifts to men. When "White Day" comes on March 14th, men give gifts to women. For those young people with no partner, these countries even have "Black Day," April 14th, when such people get together and eat food.
As technology developed, another interesting way of celebrating this holiday was added. These days, Valentine's Day greetings are sometimes exchanged through e-cards, and gifts can be sent through online shopping sites.
Whatever you choose to do, Valentine's Day is still meaningful. On this day, people all around the world are able to show their love to one another to let those people know just how important they are.
By Yoha Lee
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