Valentines Day Contest Support Thread 2025

[Kumquatqueen]

I may manage a quick token story. Can someone tell me an industrialised country where they don't do V-day, and don't have a competing festival at the time (Brazil has Carneval). I'm thinking China, say Shanghai?

 

[TheLobster]

I may manage a quick token story. Can someone tell me an industrialised country where they don't do V-day, and don't have a competing festival at the time (Brazil has Carneval). I'm thinking China, say Shanghai?

It’s not on the level of “don’t do at all,” but you could pick an arbitrary country in Eastern Europe, because in many (most?) of them people think VD is largely just Western bullshit invented to sell overpriced chocolates while that’s trying to replace their native traditions.

And while Carnival is technically a thing, it’s more like “go to one house party” and not “a month of street parades”. The temperatures are not very conducive to the latter.

 

[Actingup]

I may manage a quick token story. Can someone tell me an industrialised country where they don't do V-day, and don't have a competing festival at the time (Brazil has Carneval). I'm thinking China, say Shanghai?

There are various articles about this, but it probably depends on what flavour you want in the story. Iran or Saudi Arabia would be 'interesting'. Malaysia perhaps?

 

[Duleigh]

I may manage a quick token story. Can someone tell me an industrialised country where they don't do V-day, and don't have a competing festival at the time (Brazil has Carneval). I'm thinking China, say Shanghai?

Nope, sorry. Like Japan, Valentine's day is a two day affair in China

On both days, romantic partners like to express their love, give flowers or gifts, or go out to dinner or to the cinema. It is the woman who gives their intended chocolate. It's also a tradition for lovers to locate the stars Vega and Altair which symbolize Cowherd and Weaver Girl. One Qixi tradition is to eat 巧果 (qiǎoguǒ), a type of sweet pastry.

a month later comes "White Valentines Day"

March 14th – White Valentine’s Day (白色情人节 – báisè qíngrén jié). This day was invented in Japan in 1978 as a counterpart to the February 14th holiday. In Japan and other Asian countries, women traditionally give gifts to men on February 14th. White Valentine’s Day exactly one month later is the day when men return the favor to their partners. White chocolate is a favorite gift, hence the name.

 

[TiberiusPrime]

And mine is published!

The Good Neighbor

Enjoy!

 

[YDB95]

Australia doesn't exactly ignore Valentine's Day, but it's a lot more low-key than in America. Since February is the middle of summer here, a lot of towns have mid-summer festivals around that time.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

The country is irrelevant to the story - I just need it to have a sizeable city with a university, and citizens who wouldn't have considered the date as an issue when inviting a Brit for the 13-15th (or a week around then). Ideally a long way from Britain, so Our Protagonist can be on a plane for many hours and write a love letter (which is essentially the story).

Nope, sorry. Like Japan, Valentine's day is a two day affair in China
a month later comes "White Valentines Day"

According to that Wiki article you quote, 'Chinese Valentine's Day', Qixi, is the 7th day of month 7, aka August. All I can find is about what people do then.

Japan, yes, they have the obligatory chocolate and all on Feb 14th, and the White Day a month later.

There are various articles about this, but it probably depends on what flavour you want in the story. Iran or Saudi Arabia would be 'interesting'. Malaysia perhaps?

Malaysia is one I do know - in KL and the western states, young adults get quite soppy over V-day. It's only the states with few non-Muslims who are against it. It's underground but surprisingly popular in the Middle East (any opportunity for consumerism?)

Celebrating in one of those countries where it's illegal would be an interesting story, but not one I have time to write this year! Anyone who does take that on, please link me the story when it's done.

 

[Duleigh]

There are various articles about this, but it probably depends on what flavour you want in the story. Iran or Saudi Arabia would be 'interesting'. Malaysia perhaps?

An expression of love in Saudi Arabia? What would he use, a billy club or with a closed fist?