Beyond Valentine's: 5 Global Festivals Celebrating Love Differently

• Discover five unique festivals worldwide that celebrate love, connection, and joy beyond the traditional Valentine's Day script.
• Lupercalia (Italy), an ancient Roman festival, focused on fertility and renewal, believed to be an origin for Valentine's Day.
• Tanabata (Japan) and Qixi Festival (China) are star-crossed lover festivals where wishes are made or devotion is celebrated, often called 'Chinese Valentine's Day'.
• Dragobete (Romania) marks the start of spring, encouraging young people to gather, flirt, and celebrate love publicly.
• Omed-omedan (Indonesia), a post-Nyepi ritual in Bali, involves young people being pulled together for spontaneous kisses, symbolizing community harmony.