LOVE BEYOND BOUNDARIES

10 Love Celebrations Around The World

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Imagine a world without romance. Tragic, right? Love stories have fascinated humans since ancient times. Whether it's the beauty of flowers, the sweetness of chocolates, or the gentle glow of candlelight, love has the power to transform anyone. While the language of love is universal, the ways we celebrate it can change with each culture. That's why today we'll tell you about 10 wonderful love celebrations around the world!

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Valentine's Day is probably the most famous celebration of love in Western cultures, and its roots are embedded in ancient traditions. Some experts trace its origins to Lupercalia, a festive ode to spring and fertility in ancient Rome.

It's believed that later in history, the Catholic Church strategically placed St. Valentine's Day in February to replace the pagan festivities.

February 14 has become an iconic date marked by love in many parts of the world, but the United States is one of the most enthusiastic countries in the holiday. Today, Valentine's Day traditions in the U.S. range from classic flowers and chocolates to the delicious exchange of heart-shaped candies.

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The Day of Love is also held on February 14 in Finland, although the celebrations take a slightly different path than those in the United States.

Finns not only honor romantic love on this date but also affection for friends and family. In the "Land of the Thousand Lakes," the holiday is known as Ystävänpäivä (Friend's Day). It's a good twist that ensures everyone, including singles, feels welcomed.

So, if you find yourself without a date this February 14, don't worry; you can celebrate the Finnish way!

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Brazilians have their Dia dos Namorados (Lovers' Day) in June instead of February. The customs are similar to those of February 14, with couples giving each other romantic gifts and spending time together.

However, in Brazil, the holiday doesn't honor St. Valentine. Love is celebrated on June 12, aligning with the proximity of St. Anthony's Day on June 13. In the Brazilian tradition, St. Anthony is regarded as the figure who grants blessings to young couples, giving them prosperous and harmonious marriages.

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In South Korea, things get specific. In this Asian country, it's the women who make their partners happy on February 14 with flowers and chocolates. The tables turn on March 14, when men get their chance to give romantic gifts on what is known as White Day.

But the love calendar doesn't stop there. On April 14, there is a particular holiday for singles! The date is known as Black Day, and single people honor it by eating black noodles.

Whatever your romantic situation, you will have your special day in South Korea.

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Egyptians take Valentine's Day seriously. If you're in Egypt on February 14, there's no way you won't notice that love is being celebrated. Just like in Western cultures, flowers and gifts abound on this day.

But Egyptians also have a separate local date. They celebrate Egyptian Love Day, although with some differences from Valentine's Day. November 4 is a day for Egyptians to honor love in its broadest sense. Expressions of affection extend beyond romantic relationships to include families, friends, and any loved one.

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As it is known around the world, Argentines are passionate in all aspects of their daily lives. For this reason, love doesn't go unnoticed in the land of Tango.

February 14 is celebrated throughout the country, although with less emphasis and fanaticism than in other parts of the world. However, Argentina has a whole week in July to celebrate nothing less than sweetness.

During the seven days of La Semana de la Dulzura (The Week of Sweetness), people not only give each other chocolates and candies to express their love, but they also exchange those treats for kisses!

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In Ghana, Valentine's Day is all about sweets, and chocolate gets all the attention. As one of the world's largest cocoa producers, it's no surprise that February 14 earned the title of National Chocolate Day in 2007.

This celebration draws attention to Ghana's role as a cocoa powerhouse and also provides the perfect occasion to express love with a chocolatey treat. On that day, love and cocoa come together, creating a blend that's hard to resist.

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Love finds multiple expressions in China throughout the year, with several occasions dedicated to romance.

While Valentine's Day attracts the younger generations, the Qixi Festival has a special place in Chinese tradition. Rooted in ancient mythology, this festival pays tribute to the legend of two lovers, Zhinü and Niulang, and is observed on the seventh day of the seventh month, according to the Chinese calendar.

During the Festival, people enjoy local delicacies and dress in traditional clothing.

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Danish people have a specific way of expressing love on February 14. Poetically named, snowdrops are white flowers sent to a loved one on Valentine's Day.

But it's not all flowers and chocolates; people in Denmark have a different and very original way of pleasing their partners: Gaekkebrev. These humorous poems not only make you laugh but also contain witty rhymes. To add some mystery, the author's name is coded, turning it into a guessing game. If you successfully guess your sweetheart's name, you earn a treat: an Easter egg later in the year. Love in Denmark is very fun!

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In South Africa, February 14 is also the chosen date to celebrate in the name of love. In this African country, shops and streets are filled with romantic decorations, calling people to buy gifts to express or confess their feelings.

Adding a cute touch to the day, South Africans have a peculiar tradition. Young women take the phrase "wearing your heart on your sleeve" quite literally as they pin cards with their partner's name onto the sleeves of their attire. In some places, men enthusiastically join in on this custom.

CAN YOU SAY THESE OUT LOUD?

9 of the hardest tongue twisters in the English language

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Since time immemorial, tongue twisters have been a favorite children’s game. After all, what’s cheaper and easier than to keep kids entertained with just a few funny words that are meant to be repeated again and again?

Here we select some of the objectively hardest tongue twisters that the English language can produce. Enjoy!

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According to a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this is the hardest English tongue twister in the world. The researchers who created this funny piece of unspeakable nonsense - sadistic monsters, most likely - reported that most people who tried this tongue twister found it almost impossible to repeat.

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Quite a funny and bellicose scene. Not an easy one either, and since it’s longer than most tongue twisters here it will probably require extra time to memorize it correctly.

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How, indeed. I have to say, this one seems easy on paper, but saying it more than three times fast is a real challenge.

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If you were left wondering what in the world a menagerie is, it turns out it’s a French word that means a ‘collection of captive animals kept for display’. Essentially a precursor of the modern zoo.

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As a friend of mine pointed out after hearing this one, good luck saying this twice after having a few drinks at the brewery.

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Talk like a sick slick snake with this nitpicky little skit. Well, I’m officially ruined, I can only think in tongue-twisty fashion now.

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In phonetics - the branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and replicate sounds - the sound so familiar to the English language is what’s called a ‘dental fricative’. If this doesn’t sound terrifying enough by itself, know that this sound is commonly quite difficult for foreign learners to pronounce, and even native-speaking children usually take longer to master it.

In plain words, this means a consonant that is pronounced with the tip of the tongue placed against the teeth, but you already know that if you tried to follow your tongue movements while trying to repeat the Thursday misfortunes of Mr. Thurber.

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A haiku-esque scene for the more poetically inclined.

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Loving this one… If you have the time, challenge a young kid to this one, they might have a bit of trouble with it. But it’s more than just a tongue twister, it’s good advice.

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Hope your tongue is okay after this rollercoaster of an article! Soothe your tired speech organ with an icy drink, or maybe practice a bit more if you are thinking of challenging friends or family with some of these.

If you enjoyed our dive into the often confusing, albeit fascinating, world of tongue twisters; keep around! We will explore more fun language quirks and topics like the origin of many acronyms, or how some foreign words can become a translator’s worst nightmare.