So the time of year has come, when tour operators bombard their customers with offers on trips to heavens of the world, store counters turn red from the huge number of Valentines laid out on them, and flower sellers contact their suppliers. So it is: the whole world is preparing to celebrate Valentine's Day.
According to tradition, it is on February 14 that an accumulation of lovers and inspired couples with gifts in their hands and smiles on their faces is observed on the streets. And how do they prefer to celebrate this day in Italy?
As a rule, residents of the country on the territory of which, according to legend, St. Valentine was born, do not miss the opportunity to widely celebrate February 14th. However, their traditions regarding this date have changed slightly over the past decades. An important feature is that initially Valentine's Day on the Apennine Peninsula was considered a spring holiday. That is why most of the festivities were held outdoors.
The favorable climate of Italy allowed its residents to take to the streets and walk in the gardens in order to listen to music together or just talk and dream.
And only some time later, couples in love began to meet in arbors and parks that day. However, not so long ago, this kind of romantic “ritual” went out of fashion, and then was completely forgotten.
As for the local traditions and customs associated with Valentine's Day, special attention should be paid to Torino, where young lovers preferred to report on their decision to get married on that day.
The Italians also did not dispense with beliefs: the girls sacredly believed that the first man they would meet on that day would be their narrowed one.
And so the young girls did not sleep well on the night of February 13-14: they looked out into the street in the morning, looking forward to their fate.
For all the time of Valentine’s Day, the ideas of Italians about how to meet him have changed more than once. Today, residents of Italy adhere to the tradition that came from America. From now on, Valentine's Day is exclusively celebrated by lovers, but friends and relatives do not receive gifts. In the evening of February 14, you are unlikely to find at least one free place in city coffee houses, cafes or restaurants: they are occupied by couples who are eager to exchange gifts and please each other.
On this day, Italians prefer to present roses, perfume water and diamonds to their soul mates. However, the most popular gift, without a doubt, are flowers. As previously reported by the largest association of agricultural producers of the country Coldiretti, more than 35 percent of lovers go for gifts to flower shops. Their owners are eagerly awaiting mid-February: on the 14th, their revenue soars to heaven.
According to Coldiretti, Italians buy tens of millions of flowers every year, most of which are roses.
All Valentine's Day in Italy is called a “sweet” day. And this is not surprising: every fourth Italian lover gives his half a chocolate and other sweets. This day is especially popular. candy "Baci Perugina"inside of which there are love messages in four languages of the world. And only 19 percent of the population give clothes to their lovers, while another 19 percent look at jewelry stores for gifts.
This year, one of Verona's wine companies decided to surprise lovers with unusual bottles of Mara Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore wine. On traffic jams, lovers of romance will find soulful love messages that can be dedicated to their beloved.
