by Diane Walsh

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: February 21, 2009

How Valentine's Day is celebrated around the World

Celebrating Valentine's Day in Paris, France sounds like the ideal place for such a romantic day. Just being there is filled with love and happiness. Many lovers go to Montmartie's Wall to see the expressions of love. There are over 300 different languages with romantic verses to read or to read to your lover.

Role reversal is the key in Japan, as the Japanese women buy the men chocolates. A chocolate named, kiri-choco, is given to friends and relatives; this type of chocolate has no romantic significant.

A chocolate treat named, hon-mei, is purchased for a husband or lovers. It is full of romance. March 14th is called the White Day. This is when the men send chocolates to the ladies. The chocolate is usually white.

In Britain lovers compose their own valentine greetings. They express feelings from the heart and verses of love.

Valentine's Day is a holiday in Australia where they celebrate with week long festivals. The have celebrity shows and sports competition along with art and craft activities. Men go to great expense to purchase gold filled and elaborate valentines for their loved ones. The valentines are placed on satin cushions and decorated with flowers, shells and ribbons.

New Zealand plans a grand celebration with citizens of the state decorating their homes and shops with flowers, garlands, and blossoms of pink and red roses. Posters of cupid and love birds hang along parade routes. A major customs from New Zealand is to give homemade gift baskets to loved ones. The baskets are filled with seasonal flowers, orchids and wild bunches of berries and citrus fruits. Helium balloons are given to younger loved ones.

The men in countries like, Austria and Germany send flowers. The colors and the type of flowers are very important. Red roses stand for love, respect and courage. Red tulips are a declaration of love. Red carnations stand for admiration and say my heart aches for you.

Chinese valentine day is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. The 7th daughter of the Emperor of Heaven fell in love with a cow herder. The Emperor separated the two by sending each one to a different star. They were allowed to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th months.

On this special day the Chinese go to the temple of the Matchmaker and pray. They pray for love, happiness and the luck of love.

In Ancient Greece, Valentine 's Day was a celebration of the marriage of Zeus and Hera. It is a time to forget and forgive and to share and care the times of togetherness.

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