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Celebrations of love around the world

A guide to how different countries celebrate Valentine’s Day

Jae Pham, Cartoonist • February 13, 2026

Click on the dot to see how the geographic location celebrates love!

Valentine’s Day Around the World ❤️

Denmark

Jae Pham

Denmark’s “gækkebrev” or snow letter

In Denmark, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with bunches of white flowers called snowdrops instead of roses, as well as anonymous letters called “gaekkebrev,” which loosely translates to “joke letter.” Traditionally, these letters contain funny or romantic words on intricately cut paper, often resembling paper snowflakes, signed off with dots representing each letter of the sender’s name. If the recipient guesses the sender, they earn an Easter egg from the sender later in the year. If they can’t guess, then they owe the sender an Easter egg.

East Asia

Pepero and snacks are given to loved ones

A tradition starting from Japan but spreading to South Korea and other parts of East Asia, chocolates and gifts are given to special ones on Valentine’s Day. The receiver, often men, reciprocate the favor one month later on Mar. 14, a day known as White Day. Another day celebrated similarly to Valentine’s Day is Pocky or Pepero Day, celebrated on Nov. 11 where people give the treats to loved ones.

“I remember making homemade Peperos every year around Pepero Day. It always left my kitchen in a mess but also a great way to spend time with your friends” senior Eunho Ko said.

Brazil

Jae Pham

Couples in Brazil celebrate love during June.

Brazilians don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, but June 12 is “Dia dos Namorados,” or Lover’s Day , which is often considered to be Brazil’s Valentine’s Day where couple communicate their love with festivities, gifts and romantic dates. Some single women perform rituals called “simpatias” for Saint Anthony, the patron saint of marriage, celebrated the day after on June 13.

Argentina

Jae Pham

Argentinians celebrate Valentine’s Day with gifts

In Argentina, they set aside the entire first week of July to celebrate love between lovers and friends known as Sweetness Week where people exchange sweets for kisses or hugs. Though originally promoted as a marketing campaign to sell more sweets with the slogan “a candy for a kiss,” the week became a beloved tradition between Argentinians.

Mongolia

Jae Pham

Mongolia celebrates Valentine’s Day with notes

Mongolia celebrates Valentine’s Day similarly to Western countries with gift giving and treats, but with a twist. “In Mongolia, you don’t do anything straightforward. You don’t just give the person the gift, you hide it in certain locations,” senior Delilah Shultz said, “like a love letter with something to decipher like a riddle.”

Ghana

Jae Pham

Ghanaians celebrate Valentine’s Day primarily with chocolate

For Ghanaians, National Chocolate Day coincides with Valentine’s Day in order to promote the consumption of chocolate and cocoa products for the nutritional benefits in addition to celebrating love in a culturally relevant way as one of the largest cocoa producers in the world despite the low consumption of chocolate in Ghana.

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