In a country where Valentine’s Day is celebrated extensively from the moment you receive a decorated card in elementary school, it’s easy to forget how the rest of the world celebrates a day marked by teddy bears and candy. Several international University students shared their opinions and experiences with Valentine’s Day all over the world.
“The typical celebration is girls give chocolate or something to the boys. In the past, I have given presents to my girlfriends and friends in class. We also have White Day on March 14, and its like Valentine’s Day. But instead, the boys get something from the girls like chocolate or cake.”
Moeki Funami
Hiratsuka, Japan
“Valentine’s Day is mostly celebrated by the youth who are in schools. It’s not popular among the old people. I don’t think celebration of Valentine’s Day is something that’s big and it hasn’t been among the people for that long. Maybe it was started for the past 15 years or so. It’s mostly celebrated by giving gifts to lovers, and mostly it’s males who buy gifts to their loved ones as in my culture, it’s the men who normally give gifts and are responsible when it comes to money, but I don’t think people in my country know a lot about how Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the States.”
Kofi Kenneth Ebakyea
Takoradi, Ghana
“It’s one of the major holidays (in Nigeria), like the U.S. but on a grander scale. Not only do you give your boyfriend or girlfriend a card, but also your family and people in the office, too. I think Nigeria has always tried to outdo America, and that’s why it’s such a major thing there.”
Ann Oluloro
Nigeria
“In Syria, to be honest, the community is pretty conservative, so it’s not that popular. But the few people that really know about it and have girlfriends, they go to restaurants and give gifts. The majority would not support that idea. And before Valentine’s Day, you would see religious people telling everyone it was not good, but other people don’t care, and they still celebrate.”
Sami Gayhe
Syria, Yemen
“They don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day in Ethiopia, but my parents know how it’s celebrated in America. It’s obviously a corporational thing to make money but it’s not always a bad thing…they are just not big on things like that in Ethiopia and don’t celebrate many holidays, but America is big on consumption and I think that’s one of the reasons that America has big holidays, maybe when the economy is bigger there it will catch on.”
Kibrom Gebreab
Ethiopia
“The guy is expected to buy something like roses and candy for the girl. It’s really big in Zimbabwe. It’s almost like if they could have the day off they would. It’s like Christmas all over again.”
Chiedza Chikawa
Harare, Zimbabwe
“It’s actually kind of similar to how it is here with a lot of gifts and people usually go to the city and go on boat rides and picnics and things like that. People from the village come to sell roses in the city, it’s kind of a copy of the western style with a mixture of our own way. All the people watch the movies that come out from the west and imitate it. It’s a big thing in Kenya, but not everywhere- I’m not sure about the villages because I’m more acquainted with how it is in the city. People also get a lot of ideas from what they see on T.V. They add a little bit of spice and flavor to their Valentine’s Day.”
Lenana Faraj
Nairobi, Kenya
“It’s basically the new generation that has brought in Valentine’s Day because more people travel out of the country, and they will go to the movies and cook dinner, but few people do it. Pretty much they don’t even know how Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day unless they came here like me.”
Samir Bandaogo
Ouagadoudou, Burkina Faso 
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