Occurring on the seventh day of the seventh month of the traditional Chinese calendar, the Qixi Festival, which is often referred to as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, falls on August 22 this year. This auspicious date coincides with the 15th BRICS Summit, and to celebrate love and romance, each of the five BRICS nations showcased their distinct cultural expressions on the occasion.
A photo, taken on August 22, 2023, shows a newly registered couple taking selfies at the local municipal civil affairs bureau in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. /CFP
Originally named "the Qiqiao Festival," this event initially symbolized people's reverence for nature and women's domestic skills. Only later did it become associated with romance, thanks to a popular folktale recounting the ill-fated love story of a cowherd and a weaving maid. In the past, women used to offer fruit, flowers and even their sewing kits to the Altair and Vega stars during the Qiqiao Festival, while praying for wisdom and marital bliss.
In Brazil, Valentine's Day is celebrated on June 12th, coinciding with the feast day of Saint Anthony, a Catholic priest renowned for his kindness towards the less fortunate. Saint Anthony is affectionately regarded as Brazil's "Cupid," and churches dedicated to him in various cities serve as the primary venues for the celebrations. Saint Anthony is also venerated as the patron saint of marriage, inspiring single women to pray on this day for the chance of future wedlock.
In contrast to Western countries where roses are the favorite gifts, Brazilians prefer to present orchids to their loved ones. This inclination arises from the fact that orchids boast a lengthier blooming period compared to other flowers, symbolizing enduring love.
A file photo shows a couple kissing on a street in central Moscow decorated for Western Valentine's Day. /CFP
Valentine's Day in Russia falls on July 8th and is officially known as the Day of Family, Love and Faithfulness. This special day holds significance because Saint Peter and Saint Fevronia are revered as the protectors of marriage and family, symbolizing love and fidelity. Traditionally, individuals would attend church services on this occasion to seek blessings of love and family harmony.
In India, the observance of Western Valentine's Day on February 14th involves the exchange of bouquets, chocolates and gifts among loved ones. This year, the Indian government encouraged people to embrace cows on February 14th as a means of celebration and proposed to designate it as "Cow Hug Day."
A file photo shows a woman worshipping a cow as Indian Hindus offer prayers to the River Ganges in Allahabad, India. /CFP
In South Africa, couples have a distinctive way of commemorating Valentine's Day by literally wearing heart-shaped patterns on their sleeves. Young individuals sew paper notes bearing their partner's name onto their clothing or employ embossing techniques to attract attention.
This tradition, known as "Lupercalia," pays homage to ancient Roman festivals and is believed to have originated from matchmaking lotteries. In this practice, the names of willing young women were placed in a container and drawn by unmarried individuals to form pairs.