• In Great Britain, Spring begins on St. Valentine’s Day (February 14), widely believed to be the day on which birds choose their mates. Valentines Day is also called the Birds’ Wedding Day.
• In Norfolk (UK), a character called Jack Valentine knocks on the back door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children.
• The first man an unmarried woman sees on February 14 is destined to be her future husband.
• If a single girl sees a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it means she will marry a sailor. If she sees a sparrow, she will wed a poor man and be very happy. If she sees a goldfinch, she will marry a rich man.
• In Wales, young men used to carve wooden love spoons to give as gifts on February 14. Hearts, keys and keyholes used to decorate the spoons meant, You unlock my heart.
• Also in Wales, many people observe Dydd Santes Dwynwen, a day to commemorate St Dwynwen, patron saint of Welsh lovers.
• In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag (All Hearts’ Day).
• In Finland they celebrate Ystävänpäivä which translates Friend’s Day, and is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones.
• In Slovenia, St Valentine or Zdravko was one of the saints of Spring, the saint of good health and the patron of beekeepers.
• In some Latin American countries Valentine’s Day is known as Día del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship).
It is common to see people perform acts of appreciation for their friends.
• In Saudi Arabia, religious police recently banned the sale of all Valentine’s Day goods and ordered shop workers to remove any red items, as the day is considered a Christian holiday.
This ban’s unintended consequence was the creation of a black market in roses and red wrapping paper.
