Valentine’s Day is famous all over the world. The holiday paints store aisles with hearts and candy in the name of romance.

Although the practice of exchanging cards and presents is common in the United States, Valentine’s Day traditions differ in other countries.

In Japan and South Korea, women buy or create homemade chocolate for the men they like or for family and friends. Men wait to give their respective gifts until March 14, which is known as “White Day.” On “White Day,” men give the women they like expensive gifts, such as jewelry, clothing and confections.

Sophomore Kyu Eun Park expressed her thoughts on celebrating Valentine’s Day and White Day.

“I love these traditions! It’s very fun to participate in,” said Park who hails from Korea. “I remember I received two gifts on White Day one year.”

People in Denmark and Norway give  “Gaekkebrev,” which are love letters or funny poems that men anonymously give to women on Valentine’s Day. Using clues left by the gaekkebrev’s sender in the form of dots, the women must guess who the letter came from. If the woman guesses correctly, the sender owes her an Easter egg. If she doesn’t guess correctly, she owes the sender of the letter an Easter egg.

Dubbed “one of the most romantic countries in the world,” France has a tradition called “une loterie d’amour” or “drawing for love.” Single men and women go into homes opposite of each other and call out to one another in hopes of being paired. If pairs do not work, they simply leave each other to find another partner.

Women who were not paired gather around a bon fire and burn belongings and photos of those who rejected them in the past. However, this practice has been banned by the French government due to the resulting riots.