February is best known for Valentine’s Day. A day where everyone tries to be a little nicer and may even buy some candy, flowers, or a lovely card for someone else. However, Valentine’s Day has many different traditions and celebrations around the world!

The Dominican Republic, Honduras, Dominica and Puerto Rico celebrate Día del Amor y Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), equivalent to the United States Valentine’s Day. Couples, families, and even co-workers show love and appreciation for one another through small gifts and kind acts.

In Colombia, Día del Amor y Amistad is celebrated in September and shares many of the same customs as Valentine’s Day, including sharing chocolates and other candy, roses and other flowers, cards, a romantic dinner, and even dancing afterward.

Valentine’s Day in Suriname and French Guiana is relatively a small affair with close-knit family celebrations and festivities. One of the major Valentine’s Day events in Suriname is the presentation of traditional folk dances and songs of the region in the Valentine’s Day theme parties held at the major cities of the area.

The day of love in Valencia of Spain falls on 9th Oct. This is known as the feast of Saint Dionysus. The festival is celebrated in most parts of Spain by making ‘macadora,’ a marzipan figurine. Men make the figurines to gift to their female companions. One can also witness colorful parades on the streets of the villages of Spain.

On Valentine’s day in England, women used to place five bay leaves on their pillows. This was done to bring dreams of their future husbands. In Norfolk, Jack Valentine acts as a Santa for Valentine’s day. Children anxiously wait for the Santa, though they don’t get to see Old Father Valentine.

Though we all may celebrate Valentine’s day a little differently, no matter where we are in the world, love, family, and friendship unite us all.