Paris is regarded as one of the world's most romantic cities. With a reputation as one of the world's most romantic countries, it's no surprise that France has long celebrated Valentine's Day as a day for lovers. The first Valentine's Day card is supposed to have started in France in 1415, when Charles, Duke of Orleans, was imprisoned in the Tower of London and wrote love letters to his wife. Valentine's Day cards are still a popular practice in France and around the world today.

The loterie d'amour, or "love drawing" was another traditional Valentine's Day celebration in France. Men and women would fill houses facing each other, then take turns calling out to each other and pairing off. Men who were dissatisfied with their match could easily leave her for another, and the ladies who were left unpaired gathered for a bonfire afterward. During the burning, women burnt images of the males who wronged them and hurled insults and curses at the opposing sex. The event went so out of hand that the French authorities eventually banned it entirely.

Despite the fact that Valentine's Day is a relatively new holiday in Denmark (celebrated since the early 1990s, according to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the country has embraced February 14th with a Danish twist. Instead of roses, friends and lovers present pressed white flowers known as snowdrops.

Another famous Valentine's Day tradition in Denmark is the exchange of "lover's cards." While lover's cards were traditionally translucent cards depicting the card presenter offering a gift to his girlfriend, the phrase is now used to refer to any card shared on Valentine's Day.

On February 14th, men also give women gaekkebrev, a "joking letter" consisting of a funny poem or rhyme written on intricately cut paper and signed only with anonymous dots. If a woman who receives the gaekkebrev can correctly guess the sender, she earns herself an Easter egg later that year.

In South Korea, Valentine's Day is a popular celebration for young couples, and variations of the event are observed monthly from February through April. The gift-giving season begins on February 14th, when women woo their men with chocolates, candy, and flowers. On March 14th, known as White Day, men not only shower their sweethearts with chocolates and flowers but also boost the ante with a gift.

There is a third holiday, Black Day, for individuals who don't have anything to celebrate on Valentine's Day or White Day. Singles traditionally grieve their alone existence on April 14th by eating dark bowls of jajangmyeon, or black bean paste noodles.

Qixi, or the Seventh Night Festival, is China's equivalent to Valentine's Day, falling on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year. According to Chinese legend, Zhinu, the daughter of a heavenly king, and Niulang, a humble cowherd, fell in love, married, and had twins. When Zhinu's father found out about their marriage, he dispatched his queen to return Zhinu to the stars. Hearing Niulang's and the children's tears, the monarch agreed to allow Zhinu and Niulang to meet once a year on Qixi.

During Qixi, young ladies make melon and other fruit gifts to Zhinu in the hopes of finding a nice husband. Couples also visit temples to seek happiness and success. People look to the heavens at night to see stars Vega and Altair (Zhinu and Niulang, respectively) draw close during the star-crossed couple's annual reunion.

Women in England used to place five bay leaves on their pillows on the eve of Valentine's Day, one in each corner and one in the middle, to bring their future spouses' dreams. They may also soak bay leaves with rosewater and put them on their pillows.

In Norfolk, Jack Valentine serves as a sort of Santa Claus during Valentine's Day. Children eagerly await the knocking of Jack Valentine on their doors, and while they do not see Old Father Valentine, they love the candies and tiny gifts left on their porches.

Originally, Valentine's Day was known as the Spring Festival in Italy. The young and in love congregated outside in gardens and other public places to listen to poetry readings and listen to music before enjoying a stroll with their lover.

Another Valentine's Day tradition in Italy was for young, single females to get up before dawn to look for their future spouses. The first man a lady saw on Valentine's Day was thought to be the man she would marry within a year. Or, at the very least, he'd look a lot like the man she'd marry.

Today, Italians commemorate Valentine's Day by exchanging gifts between lovers and hosting romantic dinners. Baci Perugina, miniature chocolate-covered hazelnuts wrapped with a love statement printed in four languages, are one of the most popular Valentine's Day presents in Italy.

Because Carnival is celebrated in February or March each year, Brazilians forego the February 14th celebration in favor of Dia dos Namorados, or "Lovers' Day," on June 12th. Music festivals and performances are organized across the country in addition to the typical exchanges of chocolates, flowers, and cards. Couples aren't the only ones that receive gifts. In Brazil, individuals celebrate Valentine's Day by exchanging gifts and eating meals with friends and family.

The next day is Saint Anthony's Day, which celebrates the patron saint of marriage. Single ladies do simpatias on this day in the hopes that St. Anthony may bring them a husband.