Valentine's Day Symbols, Gods, and Icons Around the World: A Florist’s Guide
Valentine's Day has evolved from ancient Roman festivals and Christian martyrdom into a global celebration of love, but its expression varies dramatically across cultures. This HK florist guide explores the rich tapestry of symbols, deities, and icons associated with romantic love worldwide.
Western Valentine's Day Traditions
Core Symbols
Cupid (Eros) remains the most recognizable Valentine's figure in Western culture. This Roman god of love, depicted as a cherubic archer, shoots golden arrows to inspire passion and leaden ones to repel it. His Greek counterpart Eros was originally portrayed as a handsome young man before evolving into the baby-like figure we know today.
Hearts symbolize the seat of emotion and love, though the stylized heart shape bears little resemblance to the actual organ. This symbol likely derives from the shape of ivy leaves, which represented fidelity in ancient times, or the silphium plant used as an ancient contraceptive.
Red roses became synonymous with passionate love through Victorian flower language. The red rose specifically represents deep love and desire, while pink roses suggest gentler affection and white roses symbolize pure, spiritual love.
Doves represent peace, fidelity, and lasting love. In Roman mythology, doves pulled Venus's chariot, cementing their association with romantic love. Their tendency to mate for life reinforces this symbolism.
Religious Foundations
Saint Valentine himself remains a somewhat mysterious figure. Historical records suggest multiple Christian martyrs named Valentine, but the most commonly referenced was a Roman priest who performed Christian weddings when Emperor Claudius II had banned marriage for young soldiers. Valentine was executed on February 14th around 269 CE.
The Lupercalia festival provided Valentine's Day's pagan foundation. This Roman celebration involved fertility rituals where young men would draw names of women from a jar, temporarily pairing them for the festival's duration.
Asian Expressions of Love
Chinese Traditions
Qixi Festival (七夕节), often called Chinese Valentine's Day, celebrates the legendary romance between Zhi Nu (the weaver girl) and Niu Lang (the cowherd). According to myth, these star-crossed lovers can only meet once a year when magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way.
Symbols include:
Magpies: Sacred birds that enable the lovers' annual reunion
The Weaver Girl and Cowherd stars: Vega and Altair, representing eternal love separated by cosmic forces
Needlework: Women traditionally demonstrate their domestic skills on this day
Colorful threads: Representing the weaving of fate and relationships
Japanese Love Culture
Tanabata shares origins with Qixi, celebrating the same stellar lovers called Orihime and Hikoboshi in Japanese tradition.
White Day (March 14th) represents Japan's unique response to Valentine's Day, where men reciprocate gifts received on February 14th. Traditional gifts include white chocolate, marshmallows, and cookies.
Symbols include:
Bamboo branches: Where people hang written wishes
Paper streamers: Colorful decorations representing the Milky Way
Origami cranes: Symbolizing longevity and good fortune in relationships
Indian Love Traditions
Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love, wields a bow made of sugarcane with arrows of flowers. Unlike Cupid's cherubic appearance, Kamadeva is portrayed as a handsome young man riding a parrot or makara (mythical sea creature).
Holi, the festival of colors, includes romantic elements as couples celebrate with colored powders, representing the playful love between Radha and Krishna.
Symbols include:
Lotus flowers: Representing divine love and spiritual awakening
Peacock feathers: Associated with Krishna and divine romance
Jasmine: Sacred flower representing pure love and sensuality
Mango blossoms: Used in Kamadeva's arrows, symbolizing the sweetness of love
European Folk Traditions
Celtic Love Lore
Brigid presides over love, fertility, and the hearth in Celtic tradition. Her feast day (February 1st) marks the beginning of spring and renewed fertility.
Symbols include:
Celtic knots: Representing eternal, unbreaking bonds
Claddagh rings: Featuring hands (friendship), heart (love), and crown (loyalty)
Shamrocks: Each leaf representing faith, hope, and love
Norse Romance
Frigg, Odin's wife, governs love, marriage, and fertility. She's often invoked for blessings on romantic relationships and family harmony.
Freyja represents passionate love, beauty, and fertility. She owns the Brísingamen necklace and rides a chariot pulled by cats.
Symbols include:
Cats: Sacred to Freyja, representing independence within love
Amber: Associated with Freyja's tears, symbolizing precious love
Runes: Specifically the Gebo rune (ᚷ) representing gifts and partnerships
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Traditions
Persian Love Poetry
Ishtar/Inanna, ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, influenced romantic traditions throughout the Middle East. Her sacred marriage ritual celebrated the union of divine feminine and masculine principles.
Symbols include:
Eight-pointed star: Ishtar's symbol, representing the planet Venus
Lions: Representing passionate, fierce love
Date palms: Symbolizing fertility and sweetness
Pomegranates: Representing feminine fertility and the abundance of love
Arabian Love Traditions
Classical Arabic poetry elevated romantic love to spiritual heights, influencing medieval European courtly love traditions.
Symbols include:
Desert roses: Rare crystal formations representing enduring love in harsh conditions
Calligraphy: Beautiful script used to write love poems
Crescents and stars: Representing the beloved's beauty
Nightingales: Birds that sing of love's longing
African Love Symbolism
Ancient Egyptian Romance
Hathor, goddess of love, music, and fertility, was often depicted as a cow or woman with cow's horns. She protected lovers and blessed marriages.
Isis and Osiris represent the archetypal devoted couple, with Isis's love literally bringing Osiris back from death.
Symbols include:
Ankh: Symbol of life and eternal love
Lotus: Representing rebirth and the cyclical nature of love
Sistrum: Hathor's sacred rattle, used in love rituals
Cartouches: Oval shapes containing names, representing eternal binding
Sub-Saharan Traditions
Various African cultures maintain rich traditions around love and courtship, often connected to harvest festivals and coming-of-age ceremonies.
Common symbols include:
Adinkra symbols: West African symbols like "Osram ne nsoromma" (moon and star) representing love and faithfulness
Cowrie shells: Representing fertility and the feminine principle
Kente patterns: Specific weaving patterns that communicate messages about love and relationships
Indigenous American Love Traditions
North American Native Traditions
White Buffalo Calf Woman brought sacred ceremonies to the Lakota, including marriage rituals that honor the connection between human love and spiritual harmony.
Symbols include:
Eagle feathers: Representing the connection between earthly and divine love
Medicine wheels: Circular symbols representing the balance needed in relationships
Corn, beans, and squash: The "Three Sisters" representing interdependence and mutual support
Dreamcatchers: Protecting sleep and dreams, including prophetic dreams about love
Mesoamerican Traditions
Xochiquetzal, Aztec goddess of love, flowers, and fertility, governed romantic relationships and artistic creativity.
Symbols include:
Marigolds: Sacred flowers representing the sun's love for the earth
Quetzal feathers: Representing precious, divine love
Jade: Green stone symbolizing life, growth, and eternal love
Butterfly motifs: Representing transformation through love
Modern Global Adaptations
Today's global Valentine's Day blends these ancient traditions with commercial innovation:
Universal modern symbols include:
Chocolate: Originally associated with Aztec love potions, now a global gift
Greeting cards: Allowing written expression of feelings
Jewelry: Particularly rings, representing eternal commitment
Teddy bears: Representing comfort and innocent affection
Regional Variations in Contemporary Celebration
South Korea celebrates Valentine's Day, White Day, and Black Day (April 14th, when single people eat black noodles), creating a quarterly cycle of romantic acknowledgment.
Wales celebrates St. Dwynwen's Day (January 25th) with carved wooden spoons as traditional love tokens.
Brazil celebrates Dia dos Namorados (June 12th) instead of February 14th, coinciding with the eve of St. Anthony's Day, patron saint of marriage.
Philippines celebrates mass weddings on Valentine's Day, with hundreds of couples marrying simultaneously in public ceremonies.
The enduring appeal of these symbols across cultures speaks to humanity's universal desire to express and celebrate love. Whether through ancient deities, natural symbols, or modern innovations, Valentine's Day traditions continue to evolve while maintaining their core purpose: honoring the connections that bind hearts together across time and space.
