Every year on February 14, Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed. It began as a Christian holiday honoring Valentine, a martyr. It has developed into a huge cultural and economic celebration of romance and love in many parts of the world through later folk customs.
Valentine’s Day was observed on February 14 according to the eighth-century Gelasian Sacramentary. It appears that by association with the “lovebirds” of early spring, the day came to be connected with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when ideas of courtly love blossomed.
Valentine’s Day is not a recognized holiday, but in the Catholic Church, February 14 is seen as a significant cultural and religious festival of love. However, several Eastern nations decide against participating in Valentine’s Day festivities, even in a commercial way.
Despite being celebrated in many nations around the world, Valentine’s Day is not observed in some of them, mostly due to religious reasons.
Read Also: Brief History Of Valentine’s Day : Origin, Background & Tradition
The following seven nations do not observe Valentine’s Day:
Malaysia
Since Valentine’s Day violates Islamic Law and 61% of Malaysia’s population is Muslim, the holiday has been outlawed there.
Since 2005, Valentine’s Day celebrations have been prohibited by a religious decree known as a fatwa issued by Islamic authorities in Malaysia.
Eighty Muslim couples were detained in 2011 by the Islamic morality police known as Jais for celebrating Valentine’s Day. According to a Wedded Wonderland article, police raided multiple hotels in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur as part of an anti-Day Valentine’s campaign.
Iran
Iranian authorities have recently tried to outlaw Valentine’s Day celebrations by branding the day a “decadent Western tradition” and threatening businesses with legal action if they sell Valentine’s Day merchandise.
Despite this, several restaurants in Tehran are apparently completely booked, and many stores are reportedly selling sweets and teddy bears. Wedded Wonderland claims that because they are breaking the law, restaurants utilize lookouts to check if inspectors are on a Valentine’s Day patrol.
Indonesia
The largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia, is a secular state. According to a BBC article, this indicates that the government is impartial and neither supports nor rejects religion.
Valentine’s Day celebrations and the sale of gifts are prohibited in Aceh, the only region in the world that is governed by Islam.
Numerous complaints have been made in recent years, alleging that Valentine’s Day encourages casual pre-marital sex and alcohol usage, both of which are expressly prohibited by Islamic Law.
Muslim clerics have commanded singles and couples to refrain from unlawful behavior, such as exchanging cards or roses.
Despite this, Valentine’s Day is well-known in Jakarta, where businesses try to profit from the festivities.
Pakistan
Numerous riots have taken place in Pakistan in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. Two institutions in Pakistan’s Peshawar engaged in a philosophical debate in 2014 regarding the interpretation of Valentine’s Day in light of Islamic law.
Wedded Wonderland reports that once students began throwing rocks at one another, gunfire from both sides resulted, hurting three pupils.
Valentine’s Day was outlawed on February 7, 2018, by the Islamabad High Court, which deemed the holiday to be “against the teachings of Islam” and a cultural import from the West.
Russia
Technically, Valentine’s Day is observed in Russia, but it differs greatly from the western holiday. Russians observe International Women’s Day on March 8 in a manner similar to how people in Western cultures observe Valentine’s Day.
On this day, giving and receiving flowers and chocolate is highly customary. Husbands and lovers are also frequently expected to handle all the cooking and cleaning, allowing women to enjoy a full day of rest.
According to a report from Wedded Wonderland, Russia chooses to honor women worldwide and equal rights on Valentine’s Day rather than commemorating the holiday in honor of a saint.
Arab States
The idea of Valentine’s Day doesn’t fit with Saudi Arabian ideas because it is forbidden to demonstrate affection in public.
In Saudi Arabia, Valentine’s Day celebrations may result in harsh penalties. According to a story by Wedded Wonderland, five Saudi citizens were spotted dancing with six women they were not married to on Valentine’s Day in 2014 and were subsequently sentenced to 39 years in prison and 4,500 cane strokes between them.
Red flowers and other love-themed presents, including red clothes, are officially prohibited on Valentine’s Day, but you can buy them on any other day.
Pakistan
Numerous riots have taken place in Pakistan in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. Two institutions in Pakistan’s Peshawar engaged in a philosophical debate in 2014 regarding the interpretation of Valentine’s Day in light of Islamic law.
Wedded Wonderland reports that once students began throwing rocks at one another, gunfire from both sides resulted, hurting three pupils.
Valentine’s Day was outlawed on February 7, 2018, by the Islamabad High Court, which deemed the holiday to be “against the teachings of Islam” and a cultural import from the West.
India
The Indian government refused to promote Western principles and culture as a result of its independence revolution from the British empire in 1947.
Chandra Prakash Kaushik, the party’s head, said The Times of India in 2015. We don’t oppose love, but if two people fall in love, they should get married. If they are unsure, they shouldn’t devalue love by walking around together in public. Valentine’s Day was outlawed on February 7, 2018, by the Islamabad High Court, which deemed the holiday to be “against the teachings of Islam” and a cultural import from the West.
