How to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Brazil

June 12th is Valentine’s Day in Brazil. This day is also the most romantic day of the year for Brazilians.

Walking on the commercial streets of Brasilia, you will be dazzled by the displays of romantic Valentine’s Day-themed products, especially the various chocolates made into “heart” shapes, exquisite bright red lace underwear, All kinds of flowers or flower baskets, mainly orchids, are the most eye-catching, because this is the favorite and most commonly used Valentine's Day gift for Brazilians. These products are carefully decorated by merchants and are more romantic.

Many chocolate specialty stores have launched Valentine's Day flower baskets. The surface of various chocolates in the flower baskets has the words "I love you" poured on them, and the plate-shaped chocolates have also been replaced with "heart" shapes. Some stores offer Valentine's Day gift sets, such as three chocolate bars with a beautiful frame or a pot of orchids. Orchids symbolize love and require careful watering and care. In a flower shop, all kinds of colorful flower baskets were displayed, and the shop assistants also wore red T-shirts with the words "Valentine's Day on June 12th" printed on them. They told reporters that the best sellers during Valentine's Day were Brazilian orchids and imported Colombian roses. There are many varieties of orchids in Brazil, with graceful and luxurious flowers. Colombian red roses have huge flowers and rich colors, which are very popular among lovers. However, the price of these flowers is high, ranging from 80 reals to 120 reals.

Clothes and shoes are also the most common gifts for Valentine's Day. The reporter saw that many clothing stores displayed sets of red clothing in the most conspicuous places in their windows. In the front window of a lingerie store, red briefs, embroidered bras, pajamas, nightdresses and tight vests are bright and eye-catching. The store manager told reporters that the most popular item sold on Valentine’s Day is red underwear, because red itself symbolizes passionate love and is also a favorite gift for boys to give to their girlfriends. If we say that it is popular in our country to wear red clothes and pants during the Year of the Pig, Brazilian girls like to wear red underwear on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine's Day in Brazil began in 1950. That year, an advertising businessman named Joao Duria launched Valentine's Day gifts in order to stimulate Brazilians' consumption during the business off-season in June each year. This move was quickly recognized by the naturally romantic Brazilians, who all exchanged gifts with their favorite lovers on Valentine's Day. In all Spanish-speaking countries, Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th every year, while Brazil chooses June 12th as Valentine's Day. In addition to commercial promotion factors, it is also related to the fact that this day is the anniversary of the Catholic priest San Antonio.

Legend has it that a long time ago, there was a Portuguese girl who wanted love very much. However, after many years, she did not meet a lover she liked, and she felt very depressed. Someone said to her, "Go and ask Saint Antonio!" Antonio is a priest. He is very eloquent, his speeches are emotional, and he is considerate. He is especially enthusiastic about helping those in need. After Father Antonio "ascended" to heaven on June 12, he was sought after as a "saint". If people hope to find their lost relatives, get news from family members who are traveling, and pray before the statue of Antonio, these hopes will be realized. So, the girl prayed in front of the statue of Antonio every day, asking the priest to help her find love.

A few years have passed, but love has never come. The girl lost confidence and in a fit of rage threw the statue of Antonio out of the window. Unexpectedly, it hit a young man passing by on the head. The young man angrily went upstairs to ask the girl to apologize. The girl knew she was wrong, apologized, and entertained him warmly. Seeing that the girl was young, beautiful, and considerate, the young man soon lost his anger, and the more they talked, the more they became more and more interested. In the end, this young man passing by became the girl's lifelong partner.

Since then, the statue of Antonio has been enshrined on the altar upright and has become a "matchmaker" for people to pray for love. The day after Father Antonio's "ascension", June 13th, became an auspicious day for young people to choose to get married. When young people were frustrated in love, they would pray before the icon of Antonio. There is another custom: on Valentine's Day, unmarried older girls throw the icon of Father Antonio into the well. It is said that in this way she can realize her wish and get love.

Now, Brazilians celebrate Antonio’s death anniversary on June 12 as Valentine’s Day, thanking Father Antonio for his secret matchmaking that enabled the lovers to meet each other.

Brazilians have two understandings of the word "lover": one is "namorado", which means a person who loves each other; the other is "amante", which means a lover who has a sexual relationship. Brazilian Valentine's Day is "O Dia dos Namorados", which is established for people who love each other. On Valentine's Day, lovers give each other gifts to express their love for each other.

Brazilians attach great importance to love and regard it as the most important thing in life. Love is giving and caring for the person you love. On Valentine's Day, Brazilians naturally spend a lot of money on giving gifts, and regard giving gifts to lovers as a very pleasant thing. The more lovers you have, the more gifts you give, the more you receive, and the more romantic feelings and fun you have. I once knew an electrical engineer who was 32 years old and single. He said: "Although Valentine's Day has a strong commercial atmosphere, when I think of the romantic name 'Valentine's Day' and the thought that I have no partner to accompany me, I feel even more desolate."

Celebrating Valentine's Day in Brazil , not only those single men and women, but also children and the elderly will talk about it. Children give gifts to their best friends in their class on Valentine's Day. However, this gift is very small. It is often a picture drawn by oneself and then written with a blessing. Old people, like young people, will send telegrams or call to say hello to their past lovers.

For lovers, in addition to exchanging gifts, going out for a dinner together is also essential. Restaurants and bars will create a warm and elegant environment for couples who come to dine on this day. In the atmosphere decorated with ribbons, candlelight, music and flowers, couples who fall in love will hold hands in pairs and face each other. , or hug or kiss, express your love in a romantic mood, and spend a day worth remembering