On February 14, the Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day, also in Italy. And although this is a calendar date taken by its commercial aspect and by consumer society, it is also the most important day of the year for couples in love.
It is also true that this universal date is lived differently in each country or region of the planet. Today we are going to see how Italians celebrate Valentine's Day, always passionate and creative. It is not by chance that we are talking about the country of Romeo AND Juliet.
The origin of Valentine
Italian tradition makes sense when exploring the life of the saint that gives rise to the celebration. Saint Valentine actually lived in Italy in the XNUMXrd century AD, under the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius II.
At that time, prior to the Edito de Milano in 313, which granted freedom of worship to all citizens of the empire Christians were still persecuted. Valentine was one of them. As a priest of the forbidden religion, he was detained, tortured and finally executed. His remains were buried in the Via Flaminia.
St. Valentine's Basilica in Terni (Italy)
Currently the remains of the martyr rest in the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni, birthplace of the saint. An emotional celebration takes place there every February 14. Thousands of couples participate in it seeking to receive the blessing of the saint for their future wedding.
Italian Valentine's Day customs
As in the rest of the world, in Italy lovers celebrate Valentine's Day with a romantic dinner or exchanging gifts: flowers, chocolates, etc. However, there are some truly original customs and traditions that are only found in this country. These are some of the most popular:
The woman on the balcony
This old custom is practiced (or so they say) throughout the country by girls who do not have a partner or have not found love yet. For them, Valentine's Day there is little to celebrate, although on the other hand it offers them the possibility of finding their ideal partner with this ritual.
Thus, after the magical night of Valentine's Day, women seeking love should look out on the balcony (or the window) and wait for a man to appear. According to the old tradition, the first man they see will become her husband within a year.
Be it true, no, Italian women respect tradition and do not miss their date, hoping that the bachelor who passes under their balcony is a young man, handsome and with possibilities.
bacio perugina
One of the most famous sweets in Italy is produced in the city of Perugia since 1922. It is about bacio perugina, or "Kiss from Perugia", one of the classic gifts for Valentine's Day in Italy.
Kiss Perugina, Valentine's Day chocolate
The pastry Luisa Spagnoli was the creator of this chocolate and the one who had the idea of including romantic phrases on the inside of its packaging. Gossips say that those handwritten love messages were addressed to her secret lover.
True or not, that simple and funny occurrence became popular over time and today the "kisses of Perugia" are known throughout Italy.
The locks of love
Although this custom of lovers is now widespread throughout the world, the truth is that the idea was born in Italy. It is also a relatively modern tradition.
The Bridge of Lovers, a great romantic destination
It all started with the publication in 1992 of the novel Tre metri sopra in heat (in Spanish, "Three meters above the sky"), Frederick Moccia. In it, a young couple in love writes their names on a padlock and they close it on a railing of the Milvio Bridge, in Rome. They then throw the key into the waters of the Tiber River, thus leaving their love sealed forever.
Surely Moccia could not imagine the success of the idea he invented for his novel. The Milvio Bridge became known as the "Bridge of lovers", while many couples from all over the world repeated the padlock ritual on other bridges in other cities.
Romantic Valentine's Day Destinations in Italy
Italy is one of the perfect travel destinations to enjoy Valentine's Day, but also for a trip of Honeymoon or for a romantic getaway At any time of year.
Every year many couples visit the country to enjoy their love in a magical and evocative setting. Roma, the eternal city and the always romantic Venice are some of the cities chosen.
But the Italian city of love par excellence is Verona, where are among other things the Romeo's house and Juliet's Balcony. A city that adorns itself like few others every February 14 to turn romantic love into a great party.