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Valentines Day in Germany

The celebration of Valentine’s Day as we know it today with the card giving ritual and the little heart shaped gifts or chocolates, spread out from France and England to other countries such as Canada and USA. This celebration is quite recent in Germany. It is thought to have started only after the second World War and it is really aimed towards adults only. There are no cute little heart shaped cards being given between kids at school. It is a strictly “mature subject,” so it is just between grown ups.

As in all other countries celebrating it, in German stores you will find a full range of romantic stuff like gifts and cards and chocolates specifically made for Valentine’s Day. All in pink and red, of course! There is also an additional present you can get in stores: A pig! Thus, you can find little pigs offering flowers or others laying down on chocolate hearts in rather provocative postures.
These little pigs are the symbol of luck but also of lust. Thus, for extra luck with the love one or the would be Valentine, there are some pigs holding a 4 leaf clover while climbing a little ladder on a heart.
Another important item of Valentine’s Day in Germany is the big ginger cookie, made in the shape of a heart and decorated with frosting. They usually have a few words written on them such as: Meine Schatzi, Ich liebe dich, or even more “direct” messages.
Additionally in Germany they don’t say “Happy Valentines Day” as it is very common in the States or in many other English speaking countries. People just give a little present to their beloved ones without making a huge thing out of it.

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