Valentine's Day 2022: Valentine's Day is the culmination of Valentine's Week, during which each day is reserved for a particular way of expression of Love. 

Like every year, Valentine's Day will be celebrated on February 14 this year. It is that time of the year when couples express their love for each other in varied ways. Some take their partners out and others plan a surprise at home. Being a day that celebrates companionship, affection, and appreciation, there is no set rule on how to express them. Couples could get as imaginative as they want. People can also express their love, care, and respect to anyone they consider important in their life. It is the culmination of Valentine's Week, during which each day is reserved for a particular way of expression of love. Celebrated in the name of St Valentine, there are several stories describing who he was. However, the celebrations have their origin in events that are far less romantic. Most details are shrouded in mystery. St Valentine was a Catholic priest from Rome in the third century AD. Romans would celebrate the feast of Lupercalia from February 13 to 15, for which men would sacrifice a dog and a goat. Their hides would be used by men to whip women to boost their fertility. Women would then be paired with men via lottery. This match-making sometimes would culminate in marriage. Later, by the end of the fifth century, this controversial practice was discontinued and replaced with Valentine's Day, which celebrated love and companionship. The Priest helped Christian get married secretly. This happened during the region of Roman Emperor Claudius II, who did not allow men to marry. He believed single men were better and more dedicated soldiers. St Valentine was opposed to this view and helped men marry secretly. After he was found out, the emperor ordered him to be beheaded. He was executed on February 14 in 270 AD. It took 200 more years to proclaim February 14 as St Valentine's Day. Since then, it has been associated with romance and love. It has grown in importance as a cultural and economic event, yet there are no set regulations for how to celebrate it. People from diverse cultures and places of the world have created their own traditions to commemorate Valentine's Day. On February 14, you can celebrate love with a candlelight supper, a movie date, or Valentine's Day party. When it comes to Valentine's Day, many people undoubtedly start thinking about flowers, chocolate, and heart-eye emoticons. In India, gift shops throughout the country brim with red balloons and cards in the days leading up to February 14. However, not all couples around the world exchange cards, buy chocolates or give each other gifts on Valentine's Day. So, if that has got you curious about how the day is commemorated around the world, let's tell you that the traditions for this romantic day differ widely from country to country. Their love in South Africa, women pin their significant other's names on their sleeves. Men, albeit in small numbers, also follow this custom. On Valentine's Day, many couples get married in a government-sponsored event. This is a gala event in the country, and one of the most magnificent Valentine's Day celebrations around the world. It is observed as National Chocolate Day in Ghana. It's one of the world's top cocoa-producing countries. So, the government decided to dedicate the day to boost tourism. South West China, prepare a variety of rice dishes to serve to male suitors. The women hide various trinkets inside the rice to communicate a message. Couples celebrate their own version of Valentine's Day on January 25. The couples give each other elegant handcrafted wooden spoons. In Valencia, Spain, Valentine's Day is on October 9, when the feast of Saint Dionysus is celebrated. In most parts of Spain, the event is commemorated with men creating a marzipan figurine known as to give to their female companions. The country celebrates Valentine's Day on February 14. Handmade cards with pressed white flowers, called snowdrops, are exchanged between friends and lovers on this day. Here, Valentine's Day isn't just about celebrating romantic love. Estonia celebrates love for all on a day. The day entails celebrating love not just for one's significant other, but also for family and friends. In another unique Valentine's Day celebration, men are the ones who receive gifts from women. They have the option to return the love on March 14, which is known as White Day. The day is celebrated on February 24 and is a mash-up of Valentine's Day and the celebration of spring. Many couples get engaged, and young men and women also travel to the trees to collect bright flowers, while other couples wash their cheeks with snow as a good luck symbol.