What do roses, teddy bears, hearts, chocolate and love have in common? They’re all some of the things that come to mind when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day in the United States.
When it comes to the rest of the world, much of the same imagery is universally seen. However, each particular part of the world has managed to find its own way to make the “day of love and romance” unique.
In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis celebrated the holiday by speaking to thousands of engaged couples.
Paris, “The city of love,” France, saw couples encouraged to share their signs of love and affection with the help of flash mobs by the Louvre museum.
In other parts of the world, people got more creative with their ways of showing affection.
In Beijing, a hundred couples participated in a kissing contest as part of their Valentine’s Day celebration.
Bangkok saw couples being wed in fun and exciting ways such as jumping into a pond while being chased by pirates.
In Sydney, Australia a daring boyfriend proposed to his girlfriend on top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge accompanied by a harpist.
In Kuala Lumpur, 100 couples participated in a mass wedding ceremony and released heart-shaped balloons into the sky.
While many of these images of affection can be considered over-the-top, some ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day can be considered downright bizarre to the foreign onlooker, such as a Thai wedding ceremony where couples lay in a pink coffin.
Ultimately, its only one of the many ways the world chooses to show their love on the Valentine’s Day holiday.
Take a look at world celebrations of romantic holiday in photos below.
A heart-shaped balloon flies as Pope Francis leads a special audience with engaged couples, to celebrate Saint Valentine's day, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican February 14, 2014.Reuters/Tony GentileA couple share a kiss during a kissing flashmob event to celebrate Valentine's Day in front of the Pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris February 14, 2014. Reuters/Benoit TessierIraqis shop for gifts for Valentine's Day in Baghdad February 14, 2014.Reuters/Ahmed SaadA shopkeeper arranges a watch at a gold and watch shop during Valentine's Day in central Bosnian town of Zenica, February 14, 2014.Reuters/Dado RuvicA couple smiles as they stand next to a heart shape paper-flower decoration at flower market on the Valentine's Day in Islamabad February 14, 2014. Reuters/Mian KhursheedAfghan girls attending school have a dark history of being attacked by terrorist groups. On Saturday, two men men attacked three girls on their way to school in Herat.Reuters/Sara FaridHeart-shaped balloons released by newly-wed couples are seen in the sky during a photo-taking session at Thean Hou temple in Kuala Lumpur February 14, 2014. About 100 couples tied the knot in a mass wedding ceremony in conjunction with Valentine's Day.Reuters/Samsul SaidLucas Farrell (R) proposes to his girlfriend Natalie Rumble as Irish-born harpist Cliona Molins plays a romantic tune at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Valentines Day, February 14, 2014. According to BridgeClimb, a company that gives tours over the famous iconic landmark, over 4,000 couples have been engaged during a BridgeClimb but it is the first time a harpist has played at the top of the bridge.Reuters/Jason ReedGroom Tanapatpurin Samangnitit (bottom L), 40, and his bride Sunantaluk Kongkoon, 26, lie in a coffin during a wedding ceremony at Wat Takien temple in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok February 14, 2014. Seven Thai couples laid in the pink coffin on Friday during the wedding ceremony organised by the Buddhist temple on Valentine's Day. Couples believe laying briefly in the coffin will get rid of bad luck and usher happiness into their lives. This year, Valentine's Day falls on the same day as Makha Bucha Day, the day that honours Buddha and his teachings, and falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month. Reuters/Chaiwat SubprasomThousands of padlocks clipped by lovers are seen on the fence of the Pont des Arts over the River Seine in Paris February 13, 2014 on the eve of Valentine's Day. The Pont des Arts, a pedestrian bridge which crosses the Seine River, is a romantic place chosen by lovers in recent years to attach their love lock and then throw the key into the Seine River below, as a romantic gesture. Reuters/Charles PlatiauGroom Roongroj Walailuk and bride Vina Wichan jump into the pond as they are chased by men dressed as pirates during a wedding ceremony ahead of Valentine's Day in Prachin Buri province, east of Bangkok February 13, 2014. Three Thai couples took part in the wedding ceremony which was arranged by a resort and aimed at strengthen the relationships of the couples through fun activities. Reuterse/Damir SagoljToy bears are used to decorate with blue roses as flowers products on sale for the upcoming Valentine's Day on Friday at a market, in Beijing, February 13, 2014.Reuters/Jason LeeNewly-wed men carry their wives while crossing an improvised walkway made of sandbags after attending a mass wedding ceremony at Rosario town, Cavite city, south of Manila February 13, 2014. Around 182 couples participated in the mass wedding which is sponsored by the local government as a pre-Valentine's Day gift for unmarried couples.Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
