history of the holiday
The story began in Ancient Rome. Emperor Claudius II forbade young men of his state to marry so that women would not interfere with their recruitment into the army. The ruler believed that it was the ladies who did not let their spouses go to war. And they allegedly deliberately prevent the stronger sex from defending their homeland.

But love, as we know, cannot be defeated. And people got married secretly. And the local healer and preacher of Christianity, Saint Valentine, helped them in this matter. But the happiness of the young people did not last long. Unfortunately, rumors about secret weddings reached the emperors, and the lawbreaker Valentin was thrown into prison. The preacher was told that he would be executed the very next day. Without wasting a minute, he wrote a love letter to his beloved girlfriend and asked her to pass it on. Which became the martyr’s last wish.Actively celebrating Valentine's Day in different countries of the world began only in the 19th century. And to this day, every year, on February 14, lovers give each other heart-shaped cards, arrange romantic dates, propose, and get married.

In Japan, for example, girls are given chocolate. The fact is that men in the Land of the Rising Sun, as a rule, do not like sweets. And this delicacy is considered a purely feminine preference.

In England it is customary to guess. On the morning of February 14, unmarried girls go outside and look for birds. If they meet a robin on the way, it means that the future husband will be a sailor. The sparrow symbolizes the poor man, and the goldfinch, on the contrary, foreshadows the husband of the rich man.

In the United States of America, lovers are given marzipan, as well as red and white candies. In the States they are sure that flowers and sweets are symbols of love and purity.

French men are not original. Every Valentine's Day, they present jewelry to their loved ones. It is not customary for them to give other gifts.

In Denmark they even send dried white flowers to each other.

And in Spain they send love messages to each other using a carrier pigeon.

In Iceland, on February 14, bonfires are lit in the name of the son of the god Odin. In this country, flame symbolizes passion.

But there is a tradition that is revered in all countries: if you propose on February 14 or have a wedding on this day, the marriage will be happy and strong.