Associating Valentine’s Day with romantic love only began in the Middle Ages. This may have been due to Geoffrey Chaucer, who in his 1382 poem “Parlement of Foules”, linked Saint Valentine’s Day to birds choosing their mates: “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day / When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” 1,500 years later, Valentine’s Day is a trendy celebration in many countries, especially France. On Valentine’s Day, the excitement is palpable: from exchanging greeting cards to giving red roses, chocolate boxes, and sweet-hearted candies with affectionate messages, everything serves as a reason to celebrate love. In France, Valentine’s Day is all about those who are ‘in love’ as opposed to loving gestures. Children are unlikely to exchange cards, and gifts would not really be offered to friends to celebrate this Day in the way that they might be in the US or the UK. French origins and traditions of St. Valentine’s day. The origins of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to ancient Rome, brought to France after the Roman conquest of Gaul. Initially, it was a festival called Lupercalia was celebrated in mid-February. Thus, the holiday in France is often called le jour de la Fête des Amoreux, or “Lovers’ Day”. Similar to other English-speaking countries, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th in France. Phrases for Valentine’s Day cards in French. To say, “my dear” when addressing a Valentine’s Day card to a man, say, mon chéri. Le 14 février, c’est La Saint Valentin en France : la fête de l’amour et des amoureux. February 14th is Valentine’s day in France: the day for love and people in love. Careful though – unlike English cultures, Valentine’s day in France is only for people “in” love, not just loving/friendship gestures. The transition from Lupercalia to St. Valentine’s Day as a celebration of romantic love is attributed to the end of the 5th century when Pope Gelasius I forbade the celebration of Lupercalia. While the precise origin of St. Valentine’s Day is unclear, it’s often linked to one or more Christian martyrs named Valentine or Valentinus. La Saint-valentin – Valentine’s Day in France. There are many different answers to this question as to the origins of St Valentine’s Day remain something of a mystery. While this tradition began as a Christian liturgy festival celebrating the various saints named Valentinus gradually, myths were added to this celebration of 14th February. Nowadays, in the central department of Indre, the small village de Saint-Valentin hosts a three-day festival from the 12th to the 14th of February, full of romantic attractions and decorations. A few useful French phrases specific to Valentine’s Day. As we know, Valentine’s Day is the time for romantic gestures. La Saint Valentin! Doesn’t Valentine’s Day in French sound romantic? Valentine’s Day traditions vary from country to country. Valentine’s Day in France is quite different than Valentine’s Day in the States. Especially when it comes to children – Valentine’s Day is reserved for adults in France and is not really celebrated by Celebrating Valentine’s Day is for the birds. Or maybe, it would be better to say that celebrating Valentine’s Day is from the birds.. At least one explanation of why the Feast of St. Valentine is considered a day for love and romance has to do with what the Catholic Encyclopedia called “a conventional belief generally received in England and France during the Middle Ages, that on Feb Valentines Day in France. Valentine's Day Festival is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm in France. People take opportunity of the occasion and express love to people close through them. Just as in several other countries people in France exchange Valentine's Day greetings through cards, fresh flowers and gifts of love. Valentines Day Traditions and Customs. Romantic festival of St Valentine's Day is celebrated with enthusiasm and fond regard in several countries around the world. Most commonly observed Valentine's Day tradition and custom is expressing one's love with an exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. In this article, we take a look at the various historical and cultural influences that have shaped Valentine’s Day. From the mysterious figure of Saint Valentine and the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia to the medieval traditions of courtly love and the commercialization of the holiday in the modern era, we explore how February 14th became the day to celebrate love. Learn about how countries across the globe celebrate Valentine's Day including February 14 traditions from France, Italy, Germany, Finland, England and more. Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day in 496 AD, and the rest is this history. New strain in Calif. Get the USA TODAY app Start the day smarter ☀️ 🐍Year of the Snake The Welsh get a jump on the rest of the world for Valentine's Day, instead celebrating St. Dwynwen's Day on January 25. He's the patron saint of lovers, and men traditionally give their significant others hand-carved wooden spoons, which hearken back to the time when love-sick Welsh sailors carved designs into their spoons to give to their lovers upon returning home. Photo: Josh Withers / Pexels . Celebrate Valentine’s Day on a Seine River evening dinner cruise, a remarkable way to experience Paris. As couples dine on exquisite French cuisine, the boat glides by beautifully illuminated landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Valentine’s Day, known as “La Saint-Valentin” in French, is a day celebrated with love, romance, and affection across the globe. In France, this cherished occasion is not just a commercialized holiday but a deeply rooted cultural tradition that celebrates love in its myriad forms. Valentine’s Day Greetings and Gifts. In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine
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