No, you are not reading wrong. That's right! We are talking about Dia dos namorados, or as it is known in the United States, Valentine's Day. That's the question: “But isn’t Valentine's Day in June?” Yes. Here in Brazil, Valentine's Day is celebrated on June 12th but in the United States and other countries like Portugal and Angola, the date is celebrated on February 14th.

But why isn’t everything celebrated on the same day? Well, the answer is simple. February 14th is Valentine's Day on the Christian calendar, and it is on this day that the union between couples, dating and even exchange of affection between friends is celebrated. By means of tickets, letters, or bonbons in the form of hearts, love and unity is expressed.

Here in Brazil, the date is on June 12th, due to an idea of the advertiser João Dória, who already knew the celebration abroad and opted for the date for being close to the day of St. Anthony, our holy matchmaker, and still maintaining a correlation with St. Valentine. In Brazil, Valentine's Day is also more focused on exchanging gifts between couples, not so common the exchange of affection between friends.

Why Valentine's Day?

In the Age of the Emperor, Claudius II, he forbade marriages during the wars, believing that the bachelors did better in fighting. Bishop Valentine went against the orders and continued to celebrate the marriages. Valentine was discovered, arrested and sentenced to death. During the jail, the bishop received presents from young people, flowers, and tickets, saying that they still believed in love. Valentine during his days in prison, fell in love with the blind daughter of one of the jailers, and ended up mysteriously returning her sight.

When the day of his execution arrived, the bishop wrote a farewell note, signing his Valentine, which in English can be written as “Your Valentine”. Hence the translation for “your boyfriend”. Valentine eventually became a martyr for the Catholic church, and the date of his death, February 14th became known as Valentine's day. Or in Portuguese, Dia dos namorados.

In ancient Rome on the same date fertility marches were held in honor of the goddess Juno and the god Pan. Centuries later the date was celebrated in the USA, which also coincides with the first day of mating of the birds. This date was a reason for young people to leave love notes in the doorway of their beloved.

We can see that there are several beliefs and regardless of whether it is February 14th or June 12th. What counts is to celebrate with your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife and even show that affection among friends. And what about using that date as a pretext to leave a message to anyone you love and even train your English?

Happy Valentine's Day da Equipe Bilingual Now!