European Valentine's Day Traditions
Some European Countries Celebrate February 14th in Unique Ways
Feb 13, 2009
At the end of the fifth century, as Pope Gelasius declared Saint Valentine's day an official church holiday, he could hardly imagine how this particular saint's day would both delight and daunt 21st century lovers. By transposing a Christian feast onto a pagan celebration, he hoped to more easily swell the ranks of his faithful.
At the beginning of the twenty first century, an entire industry has developed to turn this Catholic feast day into a commercially sanctified day for declaring one's love. Twenty two centuries after the execution of Saint Valentine, Europeans still celebrate his feast, but perhaps with even less holiness than before Pope Gelasius got his hands on the holiday.
If you're looking for some original ways to celebrate your love or simply want to get away from store shelf chocolate offerings, here are a few ways that modern Europeans pay tribute to Valentine's day.
Valentine`s Day in England
Before the big day, take some time to try out your poetry skills. As the English do, you can write a sonnet or a simple verse declaring your heart's flame. Maybe this is Shakespeare's heritage to the English people—inspiring them to declare their love with an original, heartfelt message. Fortunately, nobody says that modern love letters have to be written in iambic pentameter!
Valentine`s Day in Scotland
As the Scottish sun sets on February 14th, single men and women get together, perhaps in a local pub hosting the event. They put their names into separate hats, one for the men, the other for the women, and each draws a name from a hat to find out who will be their valentine. Of course, some people will end up with two valentines, but in gentlemanly fashion, the man should let the woman choose whom she wishes to stay with. If a couple draws each other's name, their partnership will have a real chance of lasting, according to tradition.
Valentine`s Day in Denmark
Many Danish valentines spend the time between February 14th and Easter trying to figure out who admires them enough to send a gaekkebrev. This love letter, often more humorous than serious, is signed with dots, which the receiver must try to decipher. If he or she guesses correctly, a chocolate egg reward will be had come Easter.
Most other European countries, like Germany, France, Spain, and Italy celebrate Valentine's day the conventional way. Flowers, chocolates, and candle lit dinners know no borders, it seems, just as your imagination knows no limits. If you're looking for something original, why not invent your own Valentine's Day traditions. You can borrow from other countries' ideas or begin a completely new tradition. Just as the Catholic church and the greeting card industry have tried to make Valentine's Day their own, each couple can reinvent Valentine's Day as their own special feast.
