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Valentine’s Day Attracts Lovers All Over the World

BE MINE

RVO Staff Writer

Valentine traditions wordly Heart-shaped boxes of creamy chocolates, bouquets of roses, and lovey-dovey cards are some of the ways lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day here in the U.S. And February 14th isn’t just a happy day for lovers. In a survey published last month by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, companies producing Valentine candy, cards, flowers and novelties are swooning like teenage sweethearts because Valentine’s Day generates more than $13 Billion in revenue.

That’s a whole lotta love!

 Okay, so we all know people in the U.S. throw down some serious dough on Valentine’s Day, but how do people in other countries celebrate? What are their customs, traditions?

Here’s a peek.

FRANCE

France and Eiffel tower and love It’s been said the first Valentine’s Day card originated in France in the 1400s when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Back in the day, the French followed the tradition “une loterie d’amour” (drawing for love) that matched lovers by the sound of their voice. Single men and women would enter houses facing each other and take turns calling out to one another until they were paired off. If the men didn’t like their match, they left the woman for another man to call. As part of the tradition, the women that didn’t get matched up, got together afterward for a big ceremonial bonfire where they tossed pictures and objects of the men who rejected them, and cursed their names. French officials banned the tradition when the women got too rowdy and out of control. Today, the French take their lovers out for some fine French cuisine and champagne, and it’s the most popular day for men to get down on that bended knee and propose.

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WORLD CUP FINAL -Spain defeats Holland 1-0 in overtime

 ron-ingelisasBayonne, New Jersey resident Ron Inglesias celebrates Spain’s World Cup win on Sunday by running through the street of Bayonne. Captured here by our River View photographer Ingelisas proudly poses with Spains Flag.

 Today Spain became the eighth nation ever to win the World Cup, The win came over the Netherlands in a 1-0 extra time final score.

Spain’s game plan, and their relentless passing wore down the Dutch defense giving Spain the win in  Spain’s only World Cup Final.

Leaving  four minutes of extra time left, the goal that secured the World Cup win for Spain came in the 116th minute of play.  Fernando Torres shot rebounded off the head of a Dutch player and fell to the feet of Spain’s Cesc Fabregas, who passed it to Andres Iniesta. In the only goal of the match, Iniesta calmly took the ball and shot it past the Dutch goalie.

Now World Champions, Spain’s “Red Fury” has lived passed their reputation as underachievers in big tournaments to bring Spain and its people the World Cup Championship.