I just celebrated my first Valentine's Day in Mexico. Down here it is called El Dia del Amor y la Amistad. So, both love and friendship are honored here. I enjoyed driving through the city and observing how the day was celebrated. It is a good reminder that this is a culture that places great value on relationships (family, friends, that special someone) and celebration (fiestas!).
Lots of balloons for sale
A lovely lady who has received her valentine or is getting ready to pass one on
These stands were set up all throughout the city in front of markets and houses. They were selling balloons, candy, and stuffed animals.
Flower stands were set up for the special day
More balloons for sale downtown in Centro
After seeing a Valentine's Day in Tijuana, I was curious about how the day was celebrated in other parts of the world. Most countries were similar to the United States, but here is one that is a bit different. South Korea. So, it turns out that on February 14th, the ladies give candy to the men. That seems reasonable, but the celebration is not done at this point. On March 14th, the men are expected to return candy to the ladies that gifted chocolate or candy to them. This day is known as White Day. But wait, there is one last thing to wrap all of this up. It is called Black Day. On April 14th, all of the people that did not receive anything on the earlier dates go out to eat noodles covered in a black bean paste. This a tradition celebrated mostly among the younger generation. So there is your interesting cultural fact for the day.
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