Valentine's Day festival reached its peak in popularity during the Middle Ages. For the lovers, one day in the year dedicated to love and celebration of love meant a great deal. Love notes and flowers were originally exchanged between the beloveds. The idea of Valentine's Day and love being associated together very strongly in the Middle Ages had an interesting origin. Spring time is the season, when birds look for mates to propagate. Specially in France and England, this notion was very strong. But with lots of trials and tribulations, the modern Valentine's Day celebrations are radically different and Valentine's Day in Italy is celebrated with great passion.
Modern Italy perceives Valentine's Day as an export from the USA like Halloween and Mother's Day. The major day for celebration of love is il giorno della festa degli innamorati.
This day is reserved exclusively for the lovers and family and friends do not take part or exchange gifts. On Valentine's Day in Italy, couples go out for dinners at pizzeria or ristorante. 14th February has become very commercialized in Italy but traditionally gifts like chocolates, diamonds, perfumes and flowers are exchanged.
Italy has a very popular Valentine's gift which is known as Baci Perugina. Baci Perugina is a small chocolate covered hazelnut containing a small slip of paper with romantic poetic quote in four languages.
For a detailed tour of Valentine's Day in Italy, do visit My Dear Valentine.
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