Category: Holidays Around The World

The White Nights Festival takes place every year in St Petersburg, Russia. It is an International arts festival that takes place annually in the month of May when the sun can be seen in the night sky or in the season of the midnight sun.

This festival includes opera, classical ballet, musical shows and grand performances by Russian singers, dancers, musicians and famous stars from all over the world. This event is organized by the administration of St Petersburg city.

It starts in the month of May at the Mariinsky Theatre with Stars of the White Nights and ends in the month of July.

The main events-

• Opera Music and Classical Ballet: A series of opera, melodious orchestral performances and mesmerizing classical ballet performances called Stars of the White Nights takes place at the Mariinsky Concert Hall and Mariinsky Theater during this time of the year. It is the essential part of the White Nights Festival and its director is Valery Gergiev.

  The daily performances at the Mariinsky Theater or at the Mariinsky Concert Hall takes place generally in the evening at around 7 pm. However there are also daytime performances generally held from 12 noon onwards. The Stars of the White Nights was originally initiated by Anatoly Sobchak, St Petersburg’s first Mayor in the year 1993 and has been held every year since then. The Stars of the White Nights Festival usually starts at the end of May and lasts till the middle of July. The tickets are high in demand and get sold out months before the arrival of this festival. Especially the tickets of the performances having participation of Valery Gergiev.

• Scarlet Sails Celebration: Also known as the “Alye Parusa” festivity in Russian, this celebration in the city of St Petersburg is the most famous White Nights public event. The Scarlet Sails Festival is mainly famous for its breathtaking firework displays and the grand show celebrating the end of school year. People started celebrating this traditional event after the end of the World War II and all the schools came together to celebrate the end of the school year.

  Back then a boat with bright red sails was floating along the Admiralty Embankment and the English Embankment and making its way to the Winter Palace. Even though this tradition was started to update the revolutionary propaganda, it became a popular event celebrating the end of school year in the month of June. The popularity of the Scarlet Sails tradition and that of the children’s book “Scarlet Sails” written by Alexander Grin got a boost after the movie “Alye Parusa” was released.

• Carnival of the White Nights:  During this festival a series of carnivals are held at St Petersburg. The biggest and the most popular carnival is the one that takes place in Peterhof which is a suburb in the city. Performers dress themselves in the costumes from periods of Catherine the Great and Peter the Great and they act out various historical events that had taken place in those periods. People are seen to ride carriages from that era in the Peterhof Park. Carnivals are also held at Catherine Palace, in the suburb of Pavlovsk and the Palace Square.

• Performances by the stars at the Palace Square: During this time of the year the Palace Square becomes a stage for famous popular music stars from all over the world. Thousands and thousands of Russians gather here to enjoy the live performances by famous bands and singers like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Scorpions and many more.

The Masked Ball, also known as the Masquerade Ball, is an unusual ball in which all the people attending it comes dressed up in exotic masks and elaborate costumes. 

It has been held in the Western world for centuries and it used to be celebrated in a grand manner. This event made a comeback in the 1990’s in North America. In recent days the party ambience or the atmosphere is more emphasized and the dancing does not follow the typical formal pattern.

The themed and the costume parties that we have nowadays might have been descended down from this age old tradition.

History-

The Carnival that used to be held in the 15^th century had originally started this event. It involved pageants, Royal entries of the rulers and his representatives and victory processions celebrating various royal events and marriages. The Burning Men’s Ball or the “Bal des Ardent” was kind of a masquerade ball at which the ruler, Charles VI of France, did a dance performance along with five other French noblemen.

It was held on 28^th January 1393 by King Charles’s wife, Isabeau of Bavaria, in the honor of the remarriage of one of her lady-in-waiting. The men were dressed as wild men of woods and the costumes were made out of pitch and flax. However while dancing four noblemen caught fire from a torch and died. Gradually these balls made its way into Italy during the 16^th century Renaissance period. They were held as a public festivity and had extensive dance routine for the aristocrats and were gaining popularity mainly in Venice.

However when the Venetian Republic had a downfall at the end of 18^th century, the tradition of wearing masks to such balls declined till it vanished altogether. The Masquerade Balls became popular throughout Europe in 17^th and 18^th centuries. Many times these balls had a fatal and dangerous ending. At one of these Masked balls Gustav III of Sweden was murdered by a discontented nobleman called Jacob Johan Anckarstrom.  Later on this fatal event was also turned into theme of operas several times.  Most of the masks used in these events came from Italy and Switzerland. The Mask balls gained popularity with time in the Colonial America however it had to face many challenges. A prominent anti-masquerade movement arose that said these balls encouraged foreign influence and immortality.

The main types of Masks-

• Masks with a stick: These types of masks were used for  more casual events where the masks could be removed while eating, drinking or dancing as doing these tasks with masks on can be difficult.

• Head Masks: These masks had close resemblance to helmet. Intricate designs were done on them and they were also engraved with various gems and looked very graceful.

• Full-face Masks: These full-face white or black masks were heavily accessorized and bejeweled ostentatiously. These masks were used mainly for a completely veiled appearance and looked intriguing.

• Half-face Masks: These masks were the trendiest and most comfortable of them all. It could be found in varied range of styles and were also beautifully designed with various accessories and exotic feathers.

The Event-

The Masked Ball served as a recreation for men and women. They dressed in elaborate costumes and masks in such a way so that no one could identify them. This created a mysterious ambience at the ball. It would thus be like a game for the guests to see that whether they are being able to identify a person correctly and sometimes leading to hilarious outcomes. The masked balls were thus grand and funny at the same time and were a more enjoyable form of typical formal balls. One of the most significant balls was held on 3^rd September 1951 at Palazzo Labia and was hosted by Carlos de Beistegui.  It was also tagged as the party of the century.

The Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival is held every year in the Yeouido Island located in Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is observed at Yeouido Park where the trees that line the background of the Han River get filled with the spring flowers.

The cherry blossom trees are also found lining the both sides of the Yeouiseo-ro Road. This festival is observed annually in the mid of April when the spring flowers like royal azaleas, azaleas, forsythia blooms in the trees giving them a  magical and a breathtaking  view. Over sixteen hundred Yoshino cherry trees which belong to the Jeju origin bloom along the bank of Han River.

The place gets filled with the sweet fragrance of approximately 90,000 cherry blossom flowers that blooms during this time of the year. The Various Integrative Artistic Festival, which is a sister festival, presents performances like mimes, theatricals, dance performances throughout the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival.

Nothing can be compared to the feeling of walking under the canopy of white and pink cherry blossoms. Tourists from all over the world visits Korea during this time just to enjoy the unreal beauty of the place.

The Festival

During this festival people from all over Korea gathers in the city of Seoul and spends a peaceful holiday. Various musical performances are held and street vendors selling authentic food line up by the side of the street. People also dress up as cartoon characters and roam about in the city streets. It is one of the prettiest festivals of Korea. The music of “Cherry Blossom Ending” by Busker Busker fills up the streets of Seoul during this festival. The event starts with a parade where professional parade troupes marches along with the citizens. Various cultural and arts performances are held all over the streets of the city. At night, special landscape lightings make the cherry blossoms glow creating an extremely romantic ambience.

Other places where Cherry Blossom Festival is observed-

• Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival: The Cherry Blossom Festival in Seokchon Lake started 4 years ago and gained popularity over the years. Various exhibitions, performances and many other activities take place here during this festival.

• Namsan Cherry Blossom Festival: The Namsan Park on the Mount Namsam is another significant spot filled with the cherry blossom trees and gives rise to an enchanting view.

• Children’s Grand Park:  During this time of the year the park gets filled with colorful spring flower and becomes a tourist attraction. Families visit this location for picnics and for spending some time away from the city’s noise and crowd.

• Suyang Cherry Blossom Festival: The Suyang cherry blossom trees are found at the Seoul National Cemetery and this special type of cherry blossom trees look like weeping willow. The pink and white canopy over the graves also gives rise to a beautiful view.

The Dragon Boat Festival of China also called Duanwu Festival or Tuen Ng is a traditional Chinese holiday that is observed close to the summer solstice.

This is called the Zhongxiao Festival and is held in the honor of Qu Yuan, who was a renowned scholar in China. Being celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, this day is also known as the Double Fifth Festival.

As this festival is based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, the date on which it is celebrated varies from one year to another. It is also called the Fifth Day Festival or the Fifth Month Festival or the Dumpling Festival in Singapore and Malaysia.

• History

In most parts of Modern China, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to mark the death of the minister and poet Qu Yuan of the medieval state of Chu of Zhou Dynasty. Being a cadet member of Chu Royal House, Qu Yuan served in the high ranking offices. When the king decided to form an ally with the rising influential state of Qin, Qu Yuan was banished for opposing the decision and was even accused of treachery.

During his banishment period, he has written a lot of poems and just as he had feared, after 28 years Qin eventually captured the capital of Chu, Ying. In utter despair, Qu Yuan took his life by drowning himself in Miluo River. According to the legend, the people who admired and respected him raced their boats in the river to save his life or at least to recover his body. This is believed to be the origin of the Dragon Boat Races.

After immense searching when his body was nowhere to be found, the people dropped sticky rice balls into the river to feed the fishes so that they wouldn’t feed on his body and from this Zongzi originated. However in the former territory of Wu, this day is held in the honor of Wu Zixu. Following an evil plan, the Emperor of Yue, King Goujian, had sent a woman with bewitching beauty, Xishi, to lure King Fuchai. King had undoubtedly fallen for her and Wu Zixu realizing King Goujian’s cruel intention had warned him. Infuriated by Wu Zixu’s comment, King Fuchai forced him to commit suicide and then dumped his body into the river on the fifth day of fifth month.

Thus this day is celebrated in the honor of Wu Zixu in the southeast Jiangsu. Yet again in the cities of Ningbo, Shaoxing and Zhoushan, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated remembering a young girl called Cao E. Her father, Cao Xu, had fallen into the Shun River accidentally while presiding over the ceremony held in the honor of Wu Zixu during Duanwu Festival. Cao E tried to search for her father in the river for three days. On the fifth day both of them were found dead due to drowning and from that day onwards this day was observed in Cao E’s remembrance and for her ultimate sacrifice.

• Present Day Celebration

On this day people are seen to have wine and feast on rice dumplings. Many people also race Dragon boats on this day and it’s a tradition to hang figures of Zhong Kui, a mythological guardian entity. It is also a custom to write spells, take long walks and wear medicine bags which are perfumed. All the activities mentioned along with the ancient games like making an egg stand erect were considered to be the ways of driving away evil spirits and preventing diseases and bringing about prosperity. On this day the citizens of China throw cooked rice wrapped in bamboo leaves into the water as an age old tradition. Moreover it is a tradition to have dumplings and tzungtzu on this special occasion.

The World Environment Day, also known as the Eco Day or WED, is observed to raise the awareness of people from all over the world regarding the causes responsible for degrading environmental condition and to take positive actions to save our Mother Earth.

This day is observed on the 5^th of June every year and serves as a reminder to not neglect the present scenario and join hands to protect nature.  This is an initiative of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The World Environment Day is one of the most important t days of the United Nations to spread and encourage awareness all over the world and set forth propagandas to preserve nature. It had begun in the year 1974 and has gained importance with the passage of each year and today this day is observed in over hundred countries.

History

The World Environment Day was established or initiated on the very first day of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. This was started to attract attention of people of the entire world towards issues regarding degradation of environmental condition and depletion of its resources and to make them aware of the consequences. It was an effort to address the problems and take actions against them.

Contributions made by the Celebrities

Famous celebrities from all over the world, powerful media and other influential people have supported and encouraged the agendas set forth on the World Environment Day by participating in them and giving their complete support. Goodwill ambassadors of the United Nations Environment Program like Gisele Bundchen, an international supermodel, had sent forth an SOS to the people of the entire world to join hands for the 2014 World Environment Day with their teams to fight against the climate change which is a matter of great concern in the present day. On this day in the year 2019, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, planted sapling at 7, Race Course Road, New Delhi which is his official residence.

Campaigns by Media

The Campaign was launched by the Community Radio Station in the Republic of Nepal and radio along with television channels broadcasted news regarding environmental issues and slogans for spreading awareness among people. The army also participated in their cleanup program which attracted media’s attention and included participation of many celebrities. Another renowned television channel had launched a campaign called My Earth, My Duty which made its way into the Limca Book of Records for planting over 7,300,000 trees across 250,000 villages and thirty four cities in a single day in India on 25^th August in the year 2010.A campaign called “Greenathon” was launched by another channel, NDTV in the year 2008 and was the very first nation-wide campaign carried out in India to save and protect the environment.  Apart from these even the children put in efforts in their own little way to spread awareness and participate in the World Environment Day.

Also known as Asanha Bucha, this is a Theravada Buddhist festival which is observed on the full moon day of the 8^th Lunar month according to the old Indian calendar.

Usually falling in the month of July, this religious festival celebrates Buddha’s first teachings or sermon i.e. “setting into motion the wheel of Dhamma”. This is one of the most important and holiest days for the Theravada Buddhists and often called as “Dhamma” day after the first pivotal sermon.

The date for this festival in the year 2019 is 16^th of July and is a national holiday in Thailand. This day also marks the starting of Vassa, the Buddhist Lent Period.

History

This day is the anniversary of the auspicious occasion around 2500 years ago when Lord Buddha had delivered his first sermon to his five disciples in the Deer Park of Benares and the Buddhist Sangha (monkhood) was founded. The first sermon talked about the “Wheel of Dhamma”. This wheel first spelled out the four noble truths and the Eightfold path.

The truths were that – 1) life implies sufferings i.e. dukka, 2) origin of this suffering is attachment i.e. tanha, 3) cessation of this attachment is attainable and lastly 4) the way to cessation is via the Eightfold Path. This day also marks the beginning of worship of the Triple Gems of Buddhism namely, Lord Buddha, His teachings and His Disciples. Another historical significance of Asalha is that during this month, Buddha’s son Rahula was born after which he gave up all worldly pleasures to attain spiritual enlightenment and went on to become Lord Buddha. Asalha Puja Day is also famous as the day on which Buddha chose his first disciple Kondanna who was also the first Buddhist monk to be ordained by him.

Traditions And Celebration

It’s a tradition for the Buddhists to give alms and offerings to the monks and practice Dharma on this day. To mark this day, many ceremonies and rituals are held in the temples across Thailand. Many Thai people go to the temples on this day to take part in meditations, recital of the Eight Percepts and to listen to sermons. A usual activity on this day is the monks chanting the discourse called the Dharma Cakka Sutta.

Monks also chant mantras and preach the first sermon in Sanskrit on this day. On the evening of Asalha Puja, the people perform a ritual called “Wian Tian” which involves walking around the main shrine of the temple in clockwise direction for three times. While making the rounds, they carry a candle, incense sticks and lotus buds. In Saraburi, the local monks walk in a procession all over the town holding their alms bowls on this day. Unlike the general offerings of food, the residents will put flowers into the bowls. The monks then go back to the temples and present these flowers in honor of Lord Buddha. Asanha Bucha Day is also traditionally famous as a day when Thai men choose to enter monkhood.

Primarily known as The Pan African Historical Theatre Project, this is a cultural fest that takes place in Ghana, West Africa every two years since its inception in 1992.

This festival is organized biennially for the people of Africa and African descendants and aims to promote unity, Pan-Africanism along with the political, social and economic development of the nation itself.

Panafest boasts of being the most prestigious and cultural event that takes place in the African continent. It attracts a wide, versatile assembly of people including eminent celebrities, politicians, business tycoons, investors and tourists.

This is an international fest and attracts participants and visitors from African, Caribbean, South American countries as well as from Europe and the United States.  The panafest tour has the duration of ten days and will take place from 24^th July to 2^nd August in the year 2019.

Objectives And Celebration

This fest was started in the mid 1980’s to bring together the Africans of the continent and the diaspora over the crucial issue of slavery and oppression. It’s a celebration commemorating the effects of 500 years of slave trade and the resulting African colonies. Based on the theories of Pan-Africanism by W.E.B Du Bois’, this festival involves Emancipation Day events, musical and dance performances, informative lectures and visits to historical coastal forts and cities on the Atlantic which played a crucial part in the advancement of slavery at the starting of the 15^th century.

The objective of this fest is to portray the truth about Africa’s history and the hardships faced by the Africans through the medium of African art and culture. The soul of Panafest is all about freedom from enslavement and self-identification as natives of Africa with emancipation being the core element. Panafest talks about the most traumatic incident which took place during the formation of African societies that had caused immense erosion of the freedom and self-confidence of thousands of Africans.

This festival thus commemorates the 500 years of the most turbulent era in the history of Africa spent in enslavement and re-uniting Africans to create a positive future in the Global environment. The main goal is to celebrate the strengths and tenacity levels of African forefathers and the achievements of the African culture overcoming drawbacks like slave trade. Events occurring during this festival include works of art, drama, music, poetry as well as sight-seeing of the durbar of the chiefs and slave dungeons.

Crucial Sites

Panafest starts and ends in the capital city, Accra. It includes a pilgrimage that allows the participants to visit the places that played a crucial role in the slave trade period. Fortified prisons are visited where fellow innocent human beings were sold as chattel property. Visiting these sites helps to understand the pain and sufferings that were undertaken by millions of African slaves.

• Cape Coast – Dutch, Portuguese and British colonialists used this site to develop the slave trade. At present times, it houses the Panafest theatre.
• Elimna – This site was first founded by the Portuguese to be used as a fort and port city to export gold. It became the first place in Africa where the Europeans settled and later was transformed into an important hub for shipping slaves all over the world.
• Assin Praso – This fortified castle which now lies in ruins was used as a halting point for the slaves to take “rest” on their journey to the final place in Africa prior to being sold abroad.
• Assin Manso – This is an UNESCO World Heritage site which was a massive monument of horror to the slaves. Here they were bathed, dressed and redistributed to the ships for their oncoming sale abroad.

Spain is famous for the celebrations observed during the Holy Week also known as Semana Santa. Holy week is an important occasion for the Christians and takes place on the last week before Easter.

This week includes religious holidays like Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday which commemorate the final week in the life of Jesus Christ. The events of this festival comprises exclusively of processions of the fraternities with a backdrop of excellent spring weather and unique scenery.

Semana Santa celebrations vary from region to region in Spain each having its own flavor. The celebrations in the region of Andalusia especially in Malaga and Seville are glamorous and fully charged while those in Castile and Leon are more solemn and somber. The entire scene is filled with colors and sound topped with a poignant atmosphere.

For some it’s a fun-filled and high-spirited time while for others it’s a week of religious significance and rituals. Years after years, Spain proudly hosts the beauty and traditions of Semana Santa which attracts thousands of people from far and wide. Every year, it’s celebrated on different dates because they are based on the lunar calendar. The dates for the year 2019 are from 14^th April 2017 to 20^th April 2017.

Traditions

There are a lot of customs and traditions associated with this festival. One of the most spectacular sights during the processions is the participants wearing the ‘nazareno’ or the penitential robe. This robe has several components including a tunic, a cone-shaped hood known as the capirote to hide the face of the wearer and also a cloak. The nazareno robe is of medieval origin when these were worn by the penitents to carry out their penance without disclosing their identity. The participants wearing the nazareno walk the city streets carrying candles or wooden crosses.

In some places, they walk barefoot with shackles on their feet as a form of penance. Some of the participants also don costumes inspired by the uniforms of the Roman Legion. Processions are organized throughout the week but surely the most glamorous ones take place on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Special “trono’s” (thrones) or floats are carried in the processions. These are actually a kind of very heavy platform weighing around 5000 kilograms or even more. These platforms are used to carry ornaments or paintings and sculptures that depict scenes of Christ’s suffering before and during the Crucifixion. Many of these floats are pieces of art created by Spanish artists like Juan de Mesa, Mariano Benlliure and Gregorio Fernandez.

The best part of the procession is when the floats exits and enters the churches as this is the very moment when religion and art seems to merge into one. Tronos are carried by more than two thousand members of a fraternity while some carry candles, rods or banners according to their level of seniority. The most senior member is the president who carries a golden rod. The floats are followed by participants wearing the nazareno and women wearing traditional costumes. The big painted wooden sculptures on the floats are known as ‘pasos’ which are carried by men called “costaleros” or sack-men. Each paso is carried by 24 to 48 men who are supervised by the overseer or head of the group. To help them carry the heavy thrones, costaleros are equipped with a cushion known as ‘costal’ which prevents the direct contact of the skin and the wood. Generally the pasos are accompanied by marching bands performing to special compositions called “Marchas procesionales”.

Semana Santa In Different Parts Of Spain-

• Malaga (Andalusia)

Traditions of holy week in this southern city of Spain have a history of over 500 years. The celebrations in Malaga are famous worldwide, starting on Palm Sunday and continuing right up to Easter Sunday. The Procession consists of “tronos” followed by penitents dressed in long purple robes and pointed hats and women in black holding candles. Color and lighting is imparted by the robes and candles while incense sticks and flowers fill the air with pleasant aromas. This event is accompanied with drums and trumpets playing emotional tunes. Often a “saeta” is sung by the “saetero” from any of the balconies lining the roads. The “saeta” is a very old traditional Spanish religious song which is dedicated to the floats.

• Leon (Leon)

Located in the province by the same name in the north of Spain, this city is famous for its Semana Santa processions. More than 15,000 people or penitents known as “papones” in Leonese language participate in the processions. The most solemn and famous of the local processions is the one called-”Procesion Del Encuentro” (Procession of the Meeting). This is a nine-hour long marathon during which about 4000 penitents carry 13 “pasos” all over the city. The moment of great mourning is “El Encuentro” (The Meeting) when the two pasos dedicated to Saint John and “La Dolorosa” (Virgin Mary) are brought face to face and are moved in such a way by the carriers that as if they are dancing (“Bailados”).

• Cartagena (Murcia)

This city is located in the south-east region of the country and processions here are unique and do not resemble to those taking place in the other cities. The processions are organized by four brotherhoods- The “Californios” wearing red, The “Resucitados” wearing white, The “Penitents” wearing black and The “Marrajos” wearing purple. The brotherhoods are further divided into small groups called “agrupationes” where each group carries a float made of carved and painted wood. The float is headed by three people holding the richly embroidered brotherhood flag (“estandarte”) and the rest standing in two straight lines. All the members of the group march in unison to the beat of drums. When the band stops playing, all of them stand still in complete silence. This military like behavior is the reason they have been bestowed with the nickname “tercio” meaning regiment. People who carry the floats are called “portapasos”. The paintings that are carried on the float are lined by “cartelas” which are in fact electrical candelabras or a kind of upside down chandelier. Unlike the other cities of Spain, the floats in Cartagena follow the chronological order as per the narration of events in the Gospels.

Feast of Saint Valentine or the Saint Valentine’s Day is commonly known as the Valentine’s Day across the world. It is celebrated every year on 14^th of February.

It is an annual holiday and had originated from Christian traditions and culture. This day had originally started as holding a feast in the honor of one or more saints who were called Valentinus.

This particular day has much cultural significance across various countries even though it is not listed under the public holidays.

History

Saint Valentine of Rome’s hagiographical account indicated that he was imprisoned for performing the weddings of the soldiers who were forbidden to get married and for attending to the Christians as the Roman Empire was following anti-Christian policies in those times.

As the legend goes, Saint Valentine, during his period of imprisonment had cured his jailer’s daughter, Asterius. Before he was executed he had written a farewell letter to her and signed it off as “Your Valentine”. This day was first associated with love and affection in the 14^th century during the time of the greatest English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer.

However in the 18^th century England this day evolved into a day when all people would send flowers, handwritten cards, confectioneries and gifts to express their love and affection toward their Valentines or the special ones. In Europe it is a tradition to gift Saint Valentine’s key to the lovers as it signifies the invitation or request to unlock the heart of the person who gifts the key.

It is also given to children as this key is believed to prevent epilepsy which is also known as Saint Valentine’s Malady. People nowadays associate heart, doves, and cupid’s arrow with Valentine’s Day.  It is a day of feast in the Lutheran Churches and also in the Anglican Communion. Although many Orthodox Catholic Churches celebrate this day on 6^th July in the honor of Saint Valentine and 30^th July in the honor of Hieromartyr Valentine.

Folk Traditions

The European traditions associated with the Valentine’s Day and Saint Valentine has become insignificant over the years and is merely celebrated as the day for giving gifts to the special someone by the Anglo American culture.

Apart from these modern traditions, there are still some associations that connect the saint with the arrival of spring and maintain the main essence of this day. Even though the tradition of sending flowers, chocolates, gifts and cards had originated in the United Kingdom, various customs and regional traditions are still carried out in various parts of Europe on this day.

It a tradition in Norfolk for a character called Jack Valentine to knock and leave various sweets, gifts and other treats for children in front of the rear door of the houses. Even though this mysterious person leaves behind treats, children are still terrified of him. However in Slovenia, Zdravko or Saint Valentine is considered one of the saints of spring and good health.

He is also considered to be the patron of pilgrims and beekeepers. Here trees and plants are seen to start growing on this day and the flowers are seen to bloom. It is also celebrated as the day when the work in fields and vineyards begin. People also believe that the birds marry and propose each other on this day of the year.

It was only in the recent past that this day was marked as the day of love and affection and various modern traditions crept in. Originally the day of love was observed on 12^th March which was the Saint Gregory’s Day or 22^nd February which was the Saint Vincent’s Day. However Saint Anthony was considered to be the patron of love and his day is celebrated on 13^th June.

Across the world

Brazil: The Lover’s Day or the Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 12^th of June, on the day before the Saint Anthony’s Day who is believed to be the Saint of marriage. On this day many unmarried women perform “simpatias” which is ritual to find a good husband or a good partner. The couples exchange cards, flowers, chocolates and various other gifts to appreciate each other’s effort and to convey love on this day. Here 14^th of February is not celebrated because it either falls just before or just after the Brazilian Carnival.

United States of America: Approximately 190 million of Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year on this day. The couples gift each other various things and also go on romantic dates on this day. The average spending on Valentine’s Day has risen from 108 dollars per person to 131 dollars.

China: According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese Valentine’s day is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month and is called “Qixi festival”. As the legend says, the cowherd star and the weaver maid star which are separated from each other by the Milky Way are allowed to meet by crossing it on this day of the year.

India:  In older times there was a tradition of dearly loving and adoring the God of love, Kamadeva, illustrations of which can still be found on Khajuraho group of monuments and in Kama sutra, the book of lovemaking. However this tradition was lost in the middle ages when display of sexual affection was forbidden. The Valentine’s Day started gaining popularity from the year 1992 with the spreading done by TV channels and advertisements.

Verona is the Italian city which the world’s greatest English writer William Shakespeare had associated one of his masterpieces “The Romeo and Juliet” with.

This town is located at a distance of 155 km from Milan in the region of Veneto which is the capital of Venice and for four days every year in the month of February i.e. from 11th February to 14th February including the Valentine’s Day, this town gets drowned in the festivities of what is worldwide known as the “Verona in Love” Festival.

This festival is dedicated to all the love birds that come to Verona during the Valentine’s week as well as lovebirds all over the world. Every year, thousands of tourists come to this city with the sole purpose of standing under the very balcony where Juliette stood to look down upon her love Romeo, even though all of it was mere fiction.

This festival takes place in the picturesque streets of this enchanting city where the tourists get to enjoy a rich calendar of love themed competitions and events.  Verona has thus become a beautiful and wonderful place to spend Saint Augustine’s Valentine’s Day with people all over the world bonding over the mutual emotion-love.

How Do People Celebrate It?
Thousands of red hearts, lights and other red tinted decorations cover every nook and corner of the city during this time. Streets are filled with people as exhibitions, activities, food, concerts and aphrodisiacs take place. Famous restaurants have special menus dedicated to the four nights of this festival.

On the final day of the festival i.e. on Valentine’s Day, a Love Marathon also known as Romeo and Juliet Half Marathon is hosted whose end point is the splendid Roman Arena. During the nights, Love Walks are arranged that take the lovers through the historic places of romance in the city and ends with a synchronized act of mass kissing under the moonlight.

The most happening square of Verona during this time, Piazza dei Signori is alive with free daily live music concerts in the ‘Live in Love’ area and is decorated with a huge red carpeted heart. A valentine market called ‘Cuore da Scoprire’ is set up with heart shaped stalls selling mainly local products like chocolates, trinkets, wine, food, souvenirs, ceramics, paintings, lover’s mementos and cheese. There are various love rituals and customs which are carried out by the couples visiting the city. One such ritual is to visit Juliet’s house and attach a love note under her balcony.

People who are planning on getting married write their vows on a piece of paper and leave it there as their symbol of love. This city also encourages the tradition of leaving letters for Juliet and people can actually do that and leave it in her house and they actually get a reply back from the officials. They have been answering such love letters since the last 70 years. This town gets both love and tourism during this festival and literally puts its heart into it.

The tallest building of the town, the Lamberti Tower is lit red and one of the best things experienced by couples during this time is to climb up to the top of this tower and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Piazza dei Signora and the whole of Verona from above. The visitors of the city get special discounted entries to places like Juliet’s house, Juliet’s tomb and the Lamberti Tower during the V-day week. The closing ceremony of this festival involves lovers putting a lock on the courtyard door at Casa di Giulietta and throwing away the key in a nearby river.