Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Argentina, Britain, Canada, France, Mexico, South Korea and the United States.
Traditionally on Valentine's Day you show your love for another person by sending cards, gifts and messages of love. Couples give cards or presents to each other, but you can also send something anonymously to someone you secretly love.
Popular gifts include a box of chocolates, dinner for two and flowers, especially roses. Some people make personalised gifts, like a framed photo or a playlist of songs, or they plan a special activity together.
Valentine's Day is also a popular day to either propose or get married. You'd never forget your wedding anniversary!
Now it's your turn
- Do people celebrate Valentine's Day where you live?
- Have you ever given or received a romantic gift?
If you want to practise speaking, you can record your response using SpeakPipe voice recorder and post a link to the recording in your comment.
Go to SpeakPipe voice recorder
* Recordings are kept on a SpeakPipe server. Please don't include any music in your recording.
Hi everybody
I'm from Bogotá Colombia and here is my voice message for you , I hope that you can enjoy listening and maybe share with me your feed back
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/13xvp5mp9zzxs0vk?sfnsn=scwspwa
Hi Juan,
Thanks for sharing your message! I've found out a bit more about Love and Friendship Day in Columbia, and now I understand that people share gifts anonymously - nobody knows who the gifts come from. It sounds like a really lovely tradition :-)
Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish team)
Hello everyone. This is my audio message about Valentine´s day. I hope you can listen it and receive your feedback.
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/ckqgii1hgy5889w7
Hi Jose,
Thanks for sharing your voice message. I enjoyed learning about Friendship and Love Day in Columbia :-)
Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish team)
Hi, here is a link to my voicemessage about valentines day. (Right now i‘m preparing for an english exam Level b2-c1, so feel free to comment my Voice Message and vocabulary, Grammar, pronouciation…) thanks
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/3objgd39alq8pje8
Hi Amalia,
Thanks for telling us about Valentine's Day in Germany. It was good to hear your reflections on the topic ;-)
Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish team)
Valentine's in Japan
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/7d070e37qehfym25
Hi May_Nine,
Thank you for sharing your voice message about Valentine's Day in Japan - it was really interesting!
So, if I've understood correctly - women give men chocolates and gifts on 14 February, and then men give women chocolates and gifts one month later on 14 March (White Day)? Thanks for explaining that - I haven't heard about it before!
Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish team)
Hi guys, here is the link to share my comments about Valentine's Day.
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/g2yq9hdo1erug77m
Thanks
Hi Davi,
Thanks for your message! It's great to hear that you've been reading and listening to other people's comments about Valentine's Day all over the world!
So in Brazil, the special romantic day is 12 June? Does the day have a name, and if so, how would you translate it into English?
Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish team)
Here is my response
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/gr9e8yk42hrys0pe
Happy Valentine's Day
Excellent Yasmin. I listened your message and could understand everything. I also posted my message and if you want to listen, please send me your feedback. Bye.
Hi Yasmin6,
Thanks for sharing your voice message, I enjoyed listening to it!
I think a cosy evening watching a film with family is a perfect way to spend Valentine's Day!
Best wishes,
Jo
Hi guys I´m going to uppload my audio with information about this day https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/nj8jze9eol3q1egw
Hi how you doing i wish you good… may I ask you where are you from!?
Hello, I´m from Spain. In my country some people celebrate this day. The previous day, people go to the shops to buy to theirs partners a gift for Valentine`s day. They also buy jewellery, chocolats, some fruits or biscuits. Furthermore, people will go to have dinner in a restaurant of the city with local food or italian food too.
Hi there! In my country, as similar as the others, it's common to celebrate this lovely event. Usually just young people care about that. They prepare special gifts for their lovers, send beautiful cards with some pieces of romantic poems. Giving expensive smart phones ( iPhone, of caurce😄) is a sign for making sure your lover how much love you! I think nowadays people have forgotten the true mean of Valentine's Day and have selfish expectations. I think we should understand the true love, instead of considering financial issues. No matter what day is the Love Day. Eeveryday can be Valentine's Day.
Hi Tangled,
I love the idea of every day being Valentine's Day ... just wish my husband would think the same❣
~ Tinaツ
LearnEnglish team
Hi, I'm from Brazil. Here, we usually celebrate Valentine's day on June 12th. We exchange gifts just between dating persons and The people usually do a romantic dinner and go out with a girlfriend or husband. It is a nice day in Brazil. Yes, once I received a special gift from my boyfriend and I loved it, so much. Bye bye see you later!
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/xz9d6qplqqmqrxhw
Hi Karla! ❤
Thank you so much for leaving a recording ... it was lovely to hear you speaking English. It was interesting to hear that your Valentine's Day is in June. Do you know why? I'd love to know. And what was the special gift that you received. I think I've only every received some roses and a card. Which was lovely!
~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team
hi, i'm from Cameroon, here people celebrate falendine's day, most of them send each order gifts and go on date with their lover one, but for my case i never involte on it, it meant nothing special for me, and i thing it's a lot of misundersatood about love and the way to show it, in this day many youth have their first sex and the concequences are many among with pregnency, i thing in school and house we have to explaint the real meant of love and valentine's day,
hello there,
I'm from Myanmar. I'd like to leave a comment just because I want to practice my English skills. To be honest, I don't know much about Valentine's Day. Here, in our country, young people usually celebrate Valentine's Day by hanging out, creating special moments, sending gifts such as a bouquet of flowers or chocolate boxes or their lovers' favorite things. In my point of view, not only is this day special to me but also my husband treats it nicely and fairly on that day, it's Valentine's Day, too. There may be some risks among young people because they don't value what is "real LOVE" and they only celebrate this as popping. They have a date at hotels. Consequently, they get pregnant unwillingly and have to be ashamed.
I completely agree with you…. such a thing called valentine day will end up with the most wrong way…and pregnancy out of marriage..for me celebrating love under any circumstance has only meaning permission to have sex it’s all about sex.
Hello. Here in my country, the majority of the people are accustomed to going out on dates; in other cases, they go to the cinema in order to enjoy an incredible romantic movie, such as 500 Days of Summer, anyone but you and a romantic dairy. Perhaps It's an incredible tradition among us, especially in the West, where we have a different concept of love and romanticism through our movies, our literature, and our perspective about how hard it could be to love and be loved. About my personal experience, I am not a high key of love. I have a lot of reasons for being like this, because in my life I never had an incredible opportunity to love, and at the same time I have never gotten green light to be the boyfriend of any girl. By in large, This Valentine's Day will be another same bored day for me without love, without date, without a romantic sensation wrapping me because I am lonely; I have nobody for myself, and that is terrible. My loneliness is a stalwart part of my life; sometimes I wonder if I will have someone meant to me. But I can't complain because If my life is meant to be like this, I will accept it.
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I can understand how Valentine’s Day might feel different for everyone. Love and friendships can come in many forms, and sometimes the right person comes along when we least expect it. For now, I hope you find joy in the things that make you happy. ♡
~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team
Hello, nice to meet you, I love to hear from you and the ways in your community celebrate valentine's day
Hello Everyone !
I live in Côte d'Ivoire; in Abidjan and yes people do celebrate valentine's days. Well, they share gift between lover.
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/7xrgv5nlsrdqw6b5
Hi Shiniest!
❤How lovely to hear your voice ... thank you for leaving us a recording about your thoughts on Valentine's Day. You are lucky, I don't think I've ever received a Valentine's Day gift, well not for a long time.
~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team
I live in uper Egypt, the most of people here do not celebrate valantiens day.
in respect to me, I think it is always good to show appreciation and affection to your loved one but it does not have a set date in addition to, every day with my partner is a nice day. so, I don't care about valentine's day, but I remember that day I met her & we celebrate it & I care about her birthday & our wedding anniversary. At this occasions sometimes I send her a massage or share post on her page on face book as well as, bring a rose or chocolate to her.
when I was in undergraduate I have given a gift to my lover, then, after graduated I have received a gift.
Yes. In Angola, people used to celebrate Valentine's Day. I used to receive and give gifts from and to my wife.
Hi Mr Nzau.
Thank you for your comment. I bet your wife was really pleased to receive a gift from you. What did you give her? Flowers? Chocolates? And what did she used to give you?
~ Tina ツ
LearnEnglish team
https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/yatxmnokz90456ds
Hi John,
Thanks for leaving a recording for us! It's so lovely to listen to our learners❣
~ Tinaツ
LearnEnglish team
Hello!!! I from Venezuela, I lived the most of my life in this country and currently I have been living in Chile since 2017. In both countries their cultures celebrate vlantine's day as the previously article commented. The people or couples share time togheter, have a restaurant´s date, send chocalate's boxes, special gifts among others. I my opinion I like to plan trips with my wife and spend time to celebrate wherever we are. Of course, If we travel we add some details for this ocassion maybe in a restaurante or special place.
♡♡♡
Hey everyone,
Yes, people do celebrate Valentine's Day where I live. It's common to see couples exchanging gifts, going out for dinner, and expressing their love. As for me, I have both given and received romantic gifts on Valentine's Day. It’s always nice to show appreciation and affection for someone special.
Hi, My name is leanet, in my country celebrated Valentine's day each 14th Febraury. This day each couple give gifts, and sometimes go out to eat. I love Valentine's day because love is in the air.
In Spain, the Day of Love and Friendship is celebrated on February 14th. It is a very commercial day, as large department stores launch advertising campaigns to encourage gift shopping. Restaurants usually offer special dinners with dancing and a more elaborate menu than usual. Hotels also have special offers for the weekend, with packages that include spa sessions, romantic dinners, and dances until midnight.
Although the day is mainly associated with couples, friendship is also important, and many people take the opportunity to celebrate with close friends.
Personally, I like to celebrate it, however, I recognize that it is a very commercial date. That’s why I don’t usually buy material gifts; instead, I prefer to write an emotional letter, create a playlist, or preparing an special dinner.
Hello, everybody, I am from Madrid (Spain), and, YES, we also celebrate Valentine's day, as long as you have someone to love. How? In Spain is usual to give a present to your lover, or go out to have dinner to a special restaurant or to give a good surprise to your partner, such as to give them a beautiful travel as a present.
Do people celebrate Valentine's Day where you live?
yes, much people celebrate the valentine's day in argentina. me particularly, I don't give it much importance.
It is a date that generates a lot of commercial activity, aroud the world
Have you ever given or received a romantic gift?
yes in any
Yes, on some occasions I have received and given a present for Valentine's Day.
Hello everyone!
My name is Natali!
Valentine's day are very popular in my counrty around 10-15 last years.
All the restorants are full of couples this day, there are flowers and balloons everywhere. The atmosphere is very romantic :))
Last 2 years i live in Turkey and here people doesnt have the traditional of celebrating Valentine's day. Thats too much pity for me. Becouse i used to celebrate.
Anyway i celebrate Valentine's day even alone. Becouse its time of magic and romantic :))
I celeberate valentine's day with my special people, he give me a doll, the name is lotso, the bigger lotso than before, i'm very happy dan love him
Hi everyone!
I’m live in Brazil, so celebrate Valentine’s Day at 12 June!
But I don’t like it’s celebrate,because a think the Love is all day ❤️.
Hello, I'm Tatiana from Colombia.
In my country we do celebrate Valentine's day but we don't do it the date that the text mention. In fact, we celebrate it on september 17th, however some people like to take on account this two dates for commemoring Valentine's day.
Yes, I have. It was when I was in the 10th grade of highschool. A classmate gave me a blue balloon and a box of chocolates while we were in a little party that our teacher planned for the hole class. After that, he told me that he had some romantic feelings for me and ask me to be his gilfriend.
Hi glomi,
Thanks for sharing your lovely story!
That's interesting about celebrating it on 17 September. Why is it celebrated on this day? I wonder if couples will celebrate twice a year then, on 17 September and also 14 February ...
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello everyone,
I'm from Nepal. In my country young people celebrate valentine day. We are exchange gift card. When I was studying in Kathmandu, I get gift card from beautiful girl her name start "S". Old people general they are not celebrate valentine but teenage people enjoy this day. On this day they are eat verity food and wine .
in my contry sweden there are many pepole do celerate they buy flowers and chocolate to each other
In my country, we celebrate valentine's dayon february 14. It is a special and romantic day for me. I get a gift and a card in the shape of heart from my boyfriend. It is so cute. Also I prepare a gift for him. In the center of the city is a lot of lovers and all streets filled with music.
Here in Brazil we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but we have the "Lover's Day" on 12 June, which has actually the same function.
I have never received or given any presents, mainly because me and my partners usually find the date and its traditions very cheesy. I have always been reluctant to adhere to certain traditions, simply for finding it ridiculous to have some higher, impersonal instance telling me how to behave on a certain date. On the other hand I agree with the collegue who argued that these commemorative dates are there to remind us of things we might forget throughout the course of our everyday hussle. Even though, if you give your partner presents or specially attention ONLY on Valentine's Day, it may look more like an obligation than a genuine demonstration of affection.
Hi Stefherz,
I love that you use the word 'cheesy'! My husband would definitely agree with you! He always says to me that it's a complete rip off on these 'special days' especially Valentine's Day and he'd rather go out somewhere special or buy me flowers when it isn't February 14th. I'm still waiting ... 🤦♀️ Is there a reason that 'Lover's Day' is on 12th June?
~Tina ッ
LearnEnglish team