Valentine's Day: history, traditions and celebrations in Ukraine

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to give your loved ones warm emotions and unforgettable moments. Find out how this day is celebrated in Ukraine, what traditions exist, and interesting facts about the history of the holiday in our article

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Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and tenderness that is celebrated every year on February 14. Although its roots go back to ancient times, today it has become one of the most popular holidays in the world, including in Ukraine.

This day is filled with romantic meetings, gifts, declarations of love, and pleasant surprises.

Let's take a look at the history of the holiday, traditions of celebration in Ukraine, interesting facts and the best ideas for an unforgettable Valentine's Day.

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History of Valentine's Day

The holiday has several versions of its origin, but the most popular one is associated with the legend of St. Valentine, who lived in the Roman Empire in the third century.

At that time, Emperor Claudius II forbade soldiers to marry, believing that unmarried men were the best warriors. However, the priest Valentyn secretly married lovers, helping them to be together. For this, he was arrested and executed on February 14, 269. Before his death, he wrote a letter to the girl he loved, signing it: “Your Valentine.”

Later, the Catholic Church canonized Valentine, and his name became a symbol of love. The holiday gradually gained popularity in Europe, and in the twentieth century it became world famous.

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How is Valentine's Day celebrated in Ukraine?

In Ukraine, Valentine's Day began to be actively celebrated in the 1990s. Since then, it has turned into a day when people give each other “valentines”, flowers, gifts and spend romantic time together.

The main traditions of celebration in Ukraine:

💌 Exchange of “valentines” - heart-shaped cards with declarations of love. It is believed that they should be signed anonymously.

🌹 Giving flowers - red roses are the most common choice, symbolizing love and passion.

🎁 Romantic gifts - perfumes, sweets, jewelry, photo books and other nice little things.

Romantic dinner - lovers arrange dates in restaurants or prepare a delicious dinner at home by candlelight.

💍 Declaration of love - many men choose this day to make a marriage proposal.

🎶 Themed events - cafes, restaurants, and cinemas organize special evenings for lovers.

Interesting facts about Valentine's Day

• More than 145 million “valentines” are sent every year - it is the second most popular holiday for cards after Christmas.

• Red roses are a symbol of the holiday: they are considered the flowers of the goddess of love Venus.

• The first “valentine” was written in 1415 by the French Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was in prison.

• February 14 is the day of record-breaking confessions: most marriage proposals take place on this day.

• In England, it was believed that on February 14, birds begin to look for a mate, so this day symbolizes love.

• In Valencia (Spain), February 14 is considered the best day for weddings, with the highest number of marriages taking place on this day.

• In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated twice: on February 14, women give men chocolate, and on March 14 (White Day), men reciprocate with gifts.

How to celebrate Valentine's Day in an original way?

If you haven't decided how to spend this day yet, here are some interesting ideas:

🌹 Romantic dinner at home - cook your favorite dishes, light candles, create a cozy atmosphere.

🎁 A letter with 10 reasons why you love your soul mate is a touching gift that will definitely be remembered.

🎬 Watch a romantic movie - choose a cult melodrama, for example, “The Notebook” or “P.S. I Love You”.

Attend a concert or theater - a cultural evening together will always be special.

🏞 A weekend trip - if possible, give yourself a short trip to a picturesque place.

💌 A photo shoot for two - save romantic moments for memory.

Valentine's Day is a great occasion to remind your loved one of your feelings and make them feel good. The main thing is not only gifts, but sincerity, attention and love.

💖 Let this day be full of warmth, tenderness and vivid emotions!

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Just a reminder! Do you dream of a perfect Valentine's Day celebration? Visit Ukraine portal offers three unique tours - from relaxation in the Carpathians to a romantic trip to Lviv. Read how to book the perfect trip here.

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