Celebrate St Valentine’s Day 2009 on February 14, Wednesday

Several countries across the world celebrate the romantic festival of St Valentine’s Day on February 14 every year. The unique date of the festival traces its origin from the pagan custom of celebrating Feast of Lupercalia in the middle of the month of February. Later, when Christianity began to spread, the popular Feast of Lupercalia was turned into a Christian celebration in honor of the St Valentine, the patron saint of love and lovers. Date of St Valentines Day Festival was chosen to be February 14th, as it also happened to be the martyrdom date of St Valentine.

Several scholars, however, believe that February 14th was selected as the date of Valentine’s Day Festival because of the popular belief in England and France during the Middle Ages that birds began to look for their mate from this date.

In present time several countries including United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, France and India celebrate Valentine Day Festival on February 14 every year.

People of Japan celebrate Valentine’s Day Festival for two days. On February 14th females present chocolate to their boyfriends or other men close to them. On March 14, people of Japan celebrate White Day wherein men present chocolates to ladies close to their heart as an expression of love.

People of China celebrate their Valentine’s Day on a unique day that falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese Calendar. The date of Chinese Valentine’s Day comes from an ancient legend that narrates the story of the seventh daughter of the Emperor of Heaven who marries a poor cowherd, Niu Lang. The Emperor did not approve their union and the couple was separated and turned into stars. However, they were allowed to meet once in a year on the 7th day of 7th lunar month. The Chinese Valentine’s Day is also known as ‘Festival of the Double Sevens’ or ‘The Night of Sevens’.