How to say Happy Valentine’s Day in French, German, Spanish and 14 other languages

VALENTINE’S Day can be an opportunity to express your love language to your significant other or any one that holds a place in your heart.

The special day is celebrated around the globe – so here’s how you can say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in multiple languages.

How do you say Happy Valentine’s Day in other languages?

This is how to greet people in 17 different languages when the annual celebration of love comes around.

• Arabic – Eid hob sa’eed, habibi (to a male), Eid hob sa’eed,habibti (to a female)
• Dutch – Fijne valentijnsdag
• French – Bonne Saint Valentin
• German – Happy Valentinstag
• Hawaiian – Hau’oli La Aloha
• Indonesian – Selamat Hari Kasih Sayang
• Italian – Felice San Valentino
• Japanese – Shiawasena Barentainde
• Portuguese – Feliz Dia dos Namorados
• Mandarin – Qingren jie kuaile
• Spanish – Feliz dia de San Valentin
• Swedish – Glad Alla hjartans dag
• Thailand – Sook San Wan Valentine
• Turkish – Sevgililer Günün Kutlu Olsun

How do other countries celebrate Valentine’s Day?

In Denmark, celebrating Valentine’s Day is a new tradition.

Rather than giving sweethearts roses, Danes swap pressed white flowers called snowdrops.

Men also give women a gaekkebrev, an anonymous letter that features a funny poem or rhyme.

If she can guess who it is from she will be given an Easter egg later in the year.

In the Philippines, it’s common for mass weddings to take place on February 14.

Hundreds of couples gather in shopping malls and other public places to either say ‘I do’ for the first time, or renew their vows.

While in South Africa, women pin the names of the men they fancy on their shirtsleeves, which is an ancient Roman tradition known as Lupercalia.

It is believed that the first-ever Valentine’s Day card was originated in France, when Charles, the Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife from the prison in 1415.

Each year, the French village called “Valentine” turns into the epicenter of romance between 12th and 14th February.

You can see stunning yards, trees, and homes decorated with love cards and roses.

Italians originally celebrated Valentine’s day as their spring festival.

Another Italian Valentine’s day tradition was for young, unmarried couples to wake up before dawn to spot their future husband.

But now, Italians celebrate by exchanging gifts between lovers and romantic dinners.

Germany has more of a niche Valentine’s Day tradition, which comes in the shape of exchanging chocolate pigs.

Some may be offended by this gift but it originates to the pig representing luck and lust.

They also give large heart-shaped ginger cookies with messages written on them to each other.

Which countries don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Despite its relative popularity, not everyone is so fond of this annual celebration. In fact, some countries have gone so far as to ban Valentine’s Day and sanction anyone caught celebrating it. They include:

• Saudi Arabia
• Pakistan
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• India (certain provinces)
• Russia