V-day Trivia: 2 countries that don't celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14

Valentine's Day was originally known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, celebrated mostly by Catholics in honor of the Roman martyr Saint Valentine.

Over time, Valentine's Day or V-day had evolved into a universal celebration of love and is observed by people from different religions and countries every year on February 14.

It's a day when we express our love and appreciation for our dear ones by either taking them out on a romantic date or giving them thoughtful gifts like chocolates, flowers, stuffed toys, handwritten letters or cards, and many others.

However, there are two countries in the world that have their own version of Valentine's Day, and they don't celebrate it on February 14.

Brazil's version of V-day is called Dia dos Namorados (Lover's Day). It is celebrated on June 12, which coincides with the eve of Saint Anthony de Padua's Day. In countries like Portugal, Spain, and Brazil, Saint Anthony de Padua is known as the saint of marriages and reconciliation in couples. That's why it's only fitting that people celebrate love on the eve of his feast day. Dia dos Namorados is celebrated in Brazil with parades, marriages, and rituals called simpatias that single women perform in order to find a good boyfriend or husband.

China also has its own Valentine's Day called the Qixi Festival, celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. The Qixi Festival is believed to have originated from a romantic yet tragic love story of the beautiful fairy Zhinu, who's also known as the Weaving Maid and Niulang, a young cow herder. In celebration of Qixi festival, girls perform rituals and go to local temples to pray to Zhinu for wisdom, and wish to be married to a good husband.

It's interesting how different and alike we all are at the same time. We may have different ways of celebrating Valentine's Day, but the fact remains that we all celebrate love. So, regardless of whether you celebrate it on February 14 or not, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!