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5 Ways to Celebrate Love Around the World (with Belts)
This is our public service announcement reminding you that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Hopefully you have something nice already planned for the day (even if you’re single!), but if not, we’re here to help.
Since love makes the world go round, here are some of the different ways Valentine’s Day and love are celebrated across the globe (with some tangentially related belt content NATCH, because you’re on a blog about belts).
Slovenia
Slovenians believe that Valentine’s Day is the day that birds propose to one another. People must walk barefoot across frozen fields in order to observe the ceremony of birds. If you’re looking for a quirky, offbeat Valentine’s Day, maybe do as the Slovenians do and go birdwatching. But instead of walking barefoot on frozen ground, just wear the Basis as a nod to this icy tradition with its mellow blue hues.
Romania
Instead of Valentine’s Day, Romanians’ day of love is Dragobete. On February 24th (considered the first day of spring), girls will collect snow to use in magic potions meant to protect from illness and hard times for the rest of the year. As well, boys and girls will go into the forest to pick colorful flowers for each other. It should be noted that it is forbidden to sacrifice birds or other animals on this day— so don’t do that if you want a fruitful Dragobete. Brewing magic potions with your partner seems like a great bonding activity for Valentine’s Day, but for a more low-key Dragobetian celebration, a bouquet of fresh flowers will do the trick. And a colorful bouquet should be presented in your most colorful belt. Check out the vibrant colors of the Catalyst!
Ghana
In Ghana, Valentine’s Day shares its date with National Chocolate Day. In order to promote domestic tourism and the consumption of Ghanaian chocolate and cocoa-based products, citizens are encouraged to drink hot chocolate for breakfast instead of tea and to finish off dinner with a chocolate bar. Perhaps the world’s second largest exporter of cocoa could inspire you to have a multi-course chocolate feast: brownies, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate fondue, chocolate ice cream, chocolate souffle, chocolate lava cake, chocolate milkshakes, and chocolatinis. And obviously you’ll want to wear a sweet accessory like our chocolate-colored Control.
Bulgaria
February 14th also marks St. Trifon’s Day in Bulgaria. As St. Trifon was the patron saint of winegrowers and winemakers, his holiday is celebrated by drinking lots of wine (and also making a special bread for some reason). You’ll probably want to skip fertilizing your vineyards’ soil with blessed wine, but for a Bulgarian-inspired Valentine’s Day date, going out for a fun wine tasting or a paint-and-sip class seems like a perfect way to spend time with someone you care about. And what’s the perfect accessory to wear while pounding back pinots? Probably the Quadrant, interwoven with lush burgundy strips.
South Korea
On Valentine’s Day, women in South Korea will give the men in their lives chocolate. White Day, on March 14th, is the day men return their affections with chocolates of their own. For the lonely singles who receive nothing on either of those days, there’s Black Day on April 14th. They gather to eat noodles in black bean sauce, all while dressed head-to-toe in black. So if Valentine’s Day is more like Singles Awareness Day for you, slap on the Wavelength in black, call up some close friends, and cry over some noodles together.