In Poland St.Valentine’s Day is not a very old tradition but we have informally incorporated that day into our customs and celebrations. Although it’s been celebrated in our country only for a couple of years, it seems to be enjoyed by everyone, especially teenagers.
A long time ago, in medieval times, people in Poland used to celebrate a day that seemed to be the ancestor of the 'Day of Lovers’ –
Noc Kupaly, which was held not in Feruary like St.Valentine's Day, but during the shortest night in the year 23/24 June.
On that day also called
Sobotka or
Noc Swietojanska brides-to-be used to apply some special tricks to get attention of young men. Among others, like making wreaths and throwing them into the water or lightening fires, burning herbs and dancing, there was a custom of throwing a sugar cube into eligible bachelors’ tea. It wouldn’t be anything strange here but the sugar had been previously kept in the girl’s armpit for nine days. Do you think the 'magic' worked?
Today young people know other tricks to express their feelings like for example:
sending Valentines Day bouquets, e-cards, buying sweets, inventing chat up lines ...- but the most valuable ever are homemade valentine cards.
proverbs
chat-up lines
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