Sweet As Chocolate: The Message Of Valentine’s Day Around The Globe

Valentine's Day is an important milestone for many couples globally. Widely known as the day the whole world celebrates love and romance, that doesn’t mean everyone honors the holiday the same way. Read on to explore how people show love and appreciation, why February 14 is so important to many people, different Valentine’s Day messages you can send your sweetheart, and how therapy can help you build and maintain healthy relationships.

How do people show love aside from giving chocolate?

A love language is believed to be a way to classify how people give and receive love in a romantic relationship. While studies show that similar love languages can lead to greater satisfaction, couples can be happy together if they understand how they both express and expect love. 

• Words of affirmation—Speaking kindly with words of appreciation, love, and praise 

• Quality time—Undivided time together with face-to-face communication 

• Physical touch—Non-sexual physical touches, like hand-holding and cuddling 

• Acts of service—Doing things to make your partner feel loved and appreciated 

• Gift giving and receiving—Gifts show that you thought of them and know what they like 

Why is Valentine’s Day important to some people?

Studies show that approximately half of the adults in the United States celebrate Valentine’s Day. Some who abstain are single and don't feel much like celebrating love, but many others see February 14 as an over-commercialized holiday to sell flowers, chocolates, and other gifts. While it’s just another day to many people, to at least half the American adults, it’s a special day to show your partner how much you love and appreciate their presence in your life. 

It’s a special day to celebrate love and appreciation

While many couples actively show their affection daily, having a special day to celebrate being happy and in love can be nice. Lots of people enjoy declaring their devotion to the world and ensuring everyone knows that they’ve found someone special. Studies show that healthy, loving relationships can benefit both partners in numerous ways. For people who care about Valentine’s Day, the level of effort their partner gives can make them feel loved and appreciated. 

A strong focus on romance

Life can get hectic when you add work, family, kids, and social life into the mix. Sometimes, couples benefit from a night focused on romance where they can step out of their other roles and focus on each other. However, studies show that men and women often have different ideas of what constitutes romance. 

Exploring the message of Valentine's Day around the world

Many countries worldwide celebrate their love for their romantic partners, friends, family, or love itself on February 14. While not a complete list, explore how people celebrate Valentine’s Day globally. 

America

Couples give each other gifts like flowers, chocolates, and cards. They also generally share a romantic dinner and evening together. 

Japan

Women purchase gifts and chocolates for their partners, who return the favor on March 14.

Germany

Many German adults celebrate February 14 with cards featuring imagery of pigs—thought to represent luck—and gifts like large ginger cookies.  

Italy

Initially, a spring festival where unmarried women woke up before dawn to spot their future husbands, Italians now often celebrate with gifts and romantic dinners. 

England

Women in England used to place five bay leaves on their pillows on Valentine’s Day to bring dreams of their future husbands but now celebrate with gifts, cards, and romance. 

Slovenia

People exchange flowers, cards, and other gifts with their loved ones. Many couples go on a romantic outing. 

Brazil

Celebrate Lovers Day in Brazil with music festivals, dance performances, and gifting that isn't restricted to couples. Many families host special dinners. 

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers

Many people think of romance when considering Valentine’s Day, but recent years have seen a push to show love and appreciation for friends and family with heart-shaped cards and gifts. Children often celebrate with their entire class, and any store aisle will offer a versatile array of inclusive card and gift options geared toward numerous types of love.

Exploring the history of Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day takes its name from St. Valentine, a Catholic martyr who the Romans killed. Some believe the holiday was set for February 14 to commemorate the anniversary of St. Valentine’s death or burial (sometime around 270 A.D.), while other historians propose that it was intended to “Christianize” the pagan festival of Lupercalia.

How to have a special and happy Valentine’s Day

If you know your partner would like special treatment on Valentine’s Day, but you don’t particularly care about the holiday, it can be a good time to compromise and put in the extra effort to make them feel loved, understood, and appreciated. 

“Gonzalez and Koestner found gender differences within the expressed emotions, which included praise, love, commitment, and fidelity as expressed by individuals who were either dating or married. They found that women emphasized love and fidelity more than men, and men emphasized praise and commitment more than women did. These gender differences were influenced by relationship status. Men who were dating their partners expressed commitment, but not fidelity.” — Valentine’s Cards: The Meaning Behind The Message

Talk to your partner about expectations

You shouldn’t expect your partner to read your mind or count on them picking up subtle hints. The best way to ensure you’re not disappointed on Valentine’s Day is by making your expectations clear to your partner. As with most functional relationships, communication is the heart of a solid, healthy romantic connection. 

Use your knowledge of their love language to plan something special

You have likely observed what makes your partner happy and how they show their love. Use that knowledge to love them and plan something unique specifically for them. If they have passionate interests, you can work those in too. For example, an avid astronomer may appreciate having a star named for them. 

Ask if they would prefer a surprise or to plan your day together

Communication with your partner can be crucial to your Valentine's Day celebration. Ask them if they want input on planning your evening or if they want to be surprised. If they opt for a surprise, try to plan something that will make them feel special and show the effort you went to for them. 

Romantic quotes to include in your Valentine’s Day message

• "It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight." — Vladimir Nabokov

• “I love you more than coffee, but please don’t make me prove it.” — Elizabeth Evans

• “Where there is love, there is life.” — Mahatma Gandhi

• "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." — Aristotle

• “To love is to burn, to be on fire.” — Jane Austen

• "I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you." — Roy Croft

• “I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” —  J.R.R. Tolkien

• “I love you not only for what you are but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.” —  Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How therapy can help you build healthy relationships

Many couples struggle to communicate their emotions, needs, and expectations effectively, making misunderstandings and disappointments easy. Consider working with a licensed therapist online through a virtual relationship therapy platform like Regain. Therapy can teach you communication skills to adequately express your thoughts and feelings to your partner, conflict resolution skills to help you work through problems, and coping strategies to manage stress. Parents or guardians seeking online therapy for kids aged 12-19 can contact TeenCounseling for assistance. 

The past several years have led to massive interest in versatile mental healthcare. According to researchers at the American Psychological Association, online and in-person therapy offer comparable outcomes. Many patients report shorter wait times and lower costs with teletherapy. Additionally, virtual treatment platforms provide connection to a much more comprehensive network of qualified therapists, making it easy to connect with a therapist who makes you feel comfortable and works well with your situation and personality. Studies also show that couples therapy is equally effective online and in the traditional setting. 

Takeaway 

Valentine’s Day can be an important holiday for many people, whether single or in a relationship. There are many ways to express your love for the essential people in your life, though healthy communication is often the most precious gift you can give your loved one. The information presented here offers insight into the holiday of love, how to send a special message, and how therapy helps you build solid, healthy relationships.

Whether it's Valentine's Day or not, any day can be a celebration of love and the person or persons you love.

Whether you have a Valentine or not, remember that you are an embodiment of love itself & can be celebrated on this holiday or every single day! If you are single on this holiday, consider spending this day with friends or family on a picnic, game night, or just spending a day together with each other's company. If you prefer to celebrate by yourself, treat yourself to some well-deserved self-care with your favorite movie, meal, or a lovely walk outside.

If you are struggling on this holiday or any day at all, know that you are not alone. ReGain can help with any challenge or feeling you are currently experiencing. Reach out for the help you deserve today.