We live in a world where everyone is constantly on the move. With millions living and working abroad, some in countries with very different customs, you might want a Valentines Day guide on how to celebrate expat love.
Valentine’s Day customs from around the world may vary, but no matter where you go, the theme is the same: love. This is the day when you express your love, but you just might need to learn some different ways of doing so.
A Rather Unique Custom in Denmark
While much of the world celebrates Valentine’s Day by sending a bouquet of flowers to the one they love, Denmark has a unique twist on this custom. As a relatively new holiday celebration in Denmark, only being celebrated there since the 1990s, the Danes send pressed white flowers as a token of love.
That custom is sort of appealing in that pressed flowers can be kept forever, just like your love should be – forever. Expat ladies, beware. You might even receive a joke letter, so don’t be dismayed if your love sends you a hilarious poem in lieu of a card!
South Korea’s 60-Day Valentine’s Day Celebration
Some expats live and work in Asia and even with all the advice offered them, the one thing they may not be prepared for is a 60-day celebration of this romantic holiday that is typically celebrated on 14 February elsewhere around the world. The celebration begins in February like everywhere else, but once monthly again in March and April, young lovers will celebrate a ‘follow-up’ Valentine’s Day.
On 14 March, the day is called White Day, when men not only send a card, but they send flowers and a gift on this special day. The celebration culminates on 14 April when single young lovers mourn their still-single status by sharing a bowl of black bean noodles. Dark day, indeed!
Valentine’s Day Mass Weddings in the Philippines
Expats living in the Philippines might expect a marriage proposal in the months leading up to Valentine’s Day, with the wedding to be held on the 14th of February.
According to this International Valentine’s Day Guide About Expat Love, the Philippines is one of the top 3 countries for expats to find romance, and, non-surprisingly, Valentines Day is celebrated in much the same way as it is in the Western World.
However, there is one new tradition which is quickly sweeping the nation. This day of love is now being celebrated with mass weddings around the country, as couples gather en masse to make their vows. Typically, a mass celebration follows.
Valentine’s Day Australian Style (for us)
Jumping out of an airplane may not be for everyone, but it seems like it is in Australia. Most of the people we talked to either had already done it or were planning to soon.
Crazy as that sounds, it was a great way to celebrate… and the TV news even came out for a post jump interview!
So, as you can see, celebrating Valentine’s Day around the world has the same theme. It’s a day of love and expressing your love, it’s just that the way you express that love varies from country to country.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
YOUR TURN: How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? We’d love to hear.
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Stores loaded with red inflatables and gifting materials is a typical sight amid Valentine’s Day in India and a couple of different countries. Valentines day is a special gift of every person in this world.