Valentine’s Day Across the World

Most people are familiar with the practices of Valentine’s Day, in Europe, Oceana & North America, but it’s celebrated with a little more difference across the rest of the world, much like any international celebration. 
Latin America: 
In Brazil & most of Latin America, the Dia dos Namorados (Lovers' Day) is celebrated on June 12, which is the day before Saint Anthony's day, known there as the marriage saint. Single women perform popular rituals, called ‘simpatias’, to find a good husband or boyfriend. Couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards & flower bouquets. The February 14 Valentine's Day is not celebrated at all because it usually falls around the Brazilian Carnival.  
China: 
In Chinese, Valentine's Days is called ‘lovers' festival’ & is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar to the coming together of a legendary cow herder & a weaving maid. As per the legend, the Cowherd star & the Weaver Maid star are normally separated by the Milky Way (⚪silvery river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar. 
India 
In ancient India, Kamadeva, the lord of love, was adored; as can be seen by the erotic carvings in the Khajuraho Monuments & the Kamasutra treaty of lovemaking. However, the tradition was lost in the Middle Ages, when public displays of sexual affection became frowned upon. Valentine’s Day was introduced to India much recently in 1992 due to media like MTV, love-letter competitions & radio programmes. However, Hindu & Islamic traditionalists consider it to be cultural contamination from the West, due to globalization & people are asked to shun the “public admission of love” because of them being “alien to indian culture”. Nevertheless, the festival continues to gain popularity. 
Middle East: 
Apart from Israel, which has its own form of Valentine’s Day (Tu B'Av), in most countries, especially  ones like Malaysia, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the festival is mostly banned or at the least frowned upon, save for in large cities amongst a more modernised public.