Love-Free Land: Where Valentine's Day is Not Celebtrated
There are a few countries that do not celebrate valentine’s day but it is worth noting that it is widely celebrated in all over the world. Let’s discuss some aspect of the day such as significance and the truth about Valentine’s day.
Valentine's Day:-
Every February 14, the world comes alive with the vibrant celebration of love known as Valentine’s Day. People express affection and love towards each other with greetings and gifts. Many people use this occasion to show their appreciation to their romantic partners, friends, and family members. Valentine’s Day is marked by various traditions, such as greeting cards (valentines), sending flowers and spending quality time with loved ones.
History of Valentines day:-
Valentine’s Day is associated with romance but the origin of the day is not what we think. The Catholic Church recognizes several martyrs named Valentine, but the most commonly referenced is a priest who lived during the Roman Empire under Emperor Claudius II. It is believed that Valentine’s Day is named after Saint Valentine who was a Catholic priest in Rome in the 3rd century.
The Roman Emperor Claudius II, a pagan ruler, believed that unmarried men were more formidable soldiers than those with a spouse and family. He passed a law that prevented them from marrying and forced them to be devoted to Rome.
St. Valentin started getting these soldiers married secretly in Christian ceremonies and this was the beginning of his reputation for believing in the importance of love. When Claudius II found out, he hanged Saint Valentine.
Countries that do not celebrate valentine's day :-
Valentine is celebrated in about 30 countries of the world. It is most popular in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia and is celebrated in other countries as well. Whereas in most places it is not a public holiday. Most wedding anniversaries take place on this day in the Philippines.
There are some countries that do not celebrate valentine’s day or where it is less celebrated due to various cultural, religious or social factors.
Saudi Arabia-
During many years, Valentine’s Day was banned in Saudi Arabia due to religious grounds. Valentine’s Day was not in accordance with the principles of the nation.
The changes came when Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reduced the authority of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in 2016. Previously, celebrating Valentine’s Day could lead to arrest, and shop owners were banned from selling items related to the Day. Now, this celebration has become common among children and teenagers.
Uzbekistan-
In Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Education’s Department of Enlightenment and the Promotion of Values prohibited the celebration of Valentine’s Day on February 14. It was considered an alien holiday unrelated to their religion until 2014. Instead of celebrating Valentine’s Day, people were asked to celebrate and appreciate Babur, whose birthday falls on 14 February.
But now, celebrating the day is increasingly welcomed by more secular individuals, especially the youth. It may be celebrated as long as the couple or lovers do not cross certain boundaries (such as kissing in public or engaging in physical contact that refers to gender discrimination). They have to follow some rules. Valentine’s Day is not widely celebrated in Uzbekistan.
Malaysia-
Malaysia is one of those countries that do not celebrate valentine’s day. In 2005, a fatwa warning against celebrating Valentine’s Day was issued in Malaysia. The federal-level Malaysian Islamic Department (also known as Jakim) ran a campaign urging them to abstain from Valentine’s Day.
The Malaysian Chinese Association said those found to be associated would be “bigots” and “enemies of the state”.
Non-Muslims and tourists can also celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Indonesia-
Currently, there are no official restrictions on Valentine’s Day in Indonesia. In urban areas like Jakarta, people celebrate the occasion enthusiastically.
However, there are some places in indonesia that has restrictions on celebrating Valentine’s Day in some places such as Makassar, Banda Aceh, Surabaya and Depok. Notably, there is a complete ban on Valentine’s Day in Banda Aceh due to its perceived conflict with Islamic principles.
Iran-
According to Iranian officials, Valentine’s Day is a day of Western or foreign origin and celebrating Valentine’s Day is an invasion of Western culture and a form of cultural infiltration. This day should not be celebrated.
In 2021, the Qom Prosecutor’s Office in Iran announced its intention to prosecute individuals involved in the dissemination and promotion of symbols considered anti-cultural, particularly those associated with Valentine’s Day.
However, the majority of the Iranian young generation celebrates due to the rise in technology and social media.
Pakistan-
In Pakistan, the tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day has not been widely adopted, reflecting diverse viewpoints and minimal observance of this romantic occasion. In the last few years, The Haya days has been seen in Pakistan as an alternative to Valentine’s day.
The Islamabad High Court passed an order banning Valentine’s Day in government offices and public places with immediate effect in February 2017, after a private petition was filed which argued that Valentine’s Day was against religious teaching. It also directs the media not to publicize or cover Valentine’s events.
Many religious organization also oppose celebrating Valentine’s day. There have been protests and riots in many places in the country against Valentine’s Day. Some universities in Pakistan also restrict students from participating in Valentine’s Day related activities.
Conclusion:-
Many countries that do not celebrate valentine’s day or celebrate it less due to various factors such as different religious and social beliefs. However, this does not mean that people in these places lack the feeling of love. They just express it in their own unique ways. There is much more to love and relationships than the usual Valentine’s Day celebrations. By sharing stories from these places where Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal, we can discover the diverse ways people express affection and honor their relationships. It’s a reminder that love is universal, even if the traditions surrounding it vary.
