Love Around the World: Special Dates and Traditions for Couples

What special days celebrate love and relationships?

Here are a few days on the calendar devoted to love, affection, and relationships. Each falls on the same date every year, but how people celebrate depends on where they live.

What does “international” mean in this context?

First, a quick clarification: These aren’t public holidays, so you don’t get a day off work. They’re traditions and special observances that you can celebrate if you want to—but don’t have to.

“International” simply means an occasion is known in more than one country. It doesn’t mean that everyone celebrates it, or even that people celebrate it the same way. And a name that includes “World” or “International” doesn’t mean an organization like the United Nations has officially recognized it.

Broadly speaking, these occasions fall into three groups:

Long-standing traditions: Valentine’s Day and Sant Jordi trace their roots to Christian feast days honoring saints. Over the centuries, they evolved into celebrations of love. Sant Jordi, by the way, is the Catalan name for Saint George.

Ideas that caught on: National Hugging Day started with one man in the United States, and the idea spread from there.

Local variations: Japan’s White Day is a follow-up to Valentine’s Day, while Brazil’s Dia dos Namorados has a date all its own. International Kissing Day has a set date, but its exact origins are harder to pin down.

The takeaway? A familiar date doesn’t always have the same meaning everywhere. On February 14, couples in many countries exchange cards and gifts. In Finland, the focus is on friendship. Choose the occasion that feels right for the two of you.

How did National Hugging Day, Valentine’s Day, and International Kissing Day begin?

National Hugging Day, celebrated on January 21, was created by American pastor Kevin Zaborney. He introduced it in 1986 in Clio, Michigan, to encourage people to show affection through hugs. He chose a date between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, a time of year when many people could use a little extra warmth and connection. His original idea was meant for family and close friends, not just couples.

Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14, has Christian roots. It began as a day honoring a saint and only later became associated with romantic love. One early example is a letter written in 1477 by Margery Brews to her fiancé, John Paston. It’s widely regarded as the oldest surviving Valentine’s letter written in English.

International Kissing Day falls on July 6, but its beginnings are harder to trace. Different sources tell different stories about how it started, and national kissing holidays sometimes get mixed up with the international observance.

How do other countries celebrate love?

Valentine’s Day may be familiar around the world, but it’s far from the only celebration of romance. Different countries have their own dates and traditions.

Ystävänpäivä in Finland — February 14. While much of the world associates February 14 with romance, Finland puts friendship in the spotlight. Ystävänpäivä means “Friendship Day,” and it’s a chance to appreciate friends as well as romantic partners.

White Day in Japan — March 14. Traditionally, women in Japan give men chocolate on Valentine’s Day. A month later, men return the gesture on White Day. Not every box of chocolates is a declaration of love, though. People also give chocolate to friends or buy it for themselves.

Sant Jordi in Catalonia — April 23. This celebration is all about books and roses. In Barcelona, book and flower stalls line the streets, and authors meet readers to sign their books.

Dia dos Namorados in Brazil — June 12. Brazil celebrates its own day for couples in June rather than February. The date is linked to the feast day of Saint Anthony on June 13. Saint Anthony is traditionally associated with marriage and finding love.

These traditions show that similar occasions can fall on very different dates—and that the same date can mean something different depending on where you are.

Which dates matter most to the two of you?

International celebrations are a fun reason to do something special. But the most meaningful dates in your relationship probably aren’t marked on any public calendar: the day you met, your first kiss, the day you became a couple, your engagement, or your wedding day.

That’s where Anniversaries & Photo Collages comes in. The app counts down to your anniversaries and gives you a place to save photos, notes, locations, and voice messages for each special date. Want to remember National Hugging Day, International Kissing Day, or another occasion from this article? Just add it as a custom date.

The app is free and ad-free, with no account required and no tracking. All your data stays on your iPhone. Download it from the App Store.