Valentine’s Day is almost here, and to help you and your children celebrate, we’ve created a set of printable Valentine’s cards for you to download. For best results, use heavy paper or card stock and a color printer, then download our Valentine’s cards, print and cut out along the dotted lines. These cards will help your kids express their love and appreciation to friends and family in a variety of different languages this year.
In keeping with our cross cultural theme, you might use this Valentine’s activity as a way to start a conversation with your children about how Valentine’s Day is celebrated in different cultures and countries. If you host an au pair, ask her to share how she would celebrate Valentine’s Day if she were at home. If not, here are some examples of how Valentine’s Day is celebrated in some of the countries where Cultural Care recruits au pairs.
Colombia:
Known as “Día del Amor y la Amistad” or “Day of Love and Friendship,” Valentine’s Day in Colombia is actually celebrated on the third Saturday in September. In Colombia, the holiday focuses not just on romantic love, but also on friendship. Friends often use the day to express their appreciation for each other by sending flowers and cards, but they also enjoy getting together to celebrate as a group of friends and family. No lonely hearts clubs in Colombia!
Finland:
In Finland, Ystävänpäivä is the name for Valentine’s Day, and literally translates as “Friend’s Day.” The holiday wasn’t widely celebrated until 1987, but now it is customary for close friends to exchange cards and gifts. Though Finland’s celebration of Valentine’s Day is less about romantic love, it is still a popular day for couples to get engaged or married.
China:
In China, the closest holiday to Valentine’s Day is The Qixi Festival, which is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar or August 13th, this year. The festival revolves mostly around young women who pray for a good husband if single, or for children if newly married. Women make offerings of fruit, flowers, tea and face powder to be bound in beauty to the seventh daughter of the Goddess of Heaven. Recently, the Chinese have begun to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th as well.
However you and your family celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s a great day to encourage your kids to show appreciation for all of the love and support they get from their family, friends, au pairs, teachers or other childcare providers. We hope our downloadable Valentine’s Day cards are a fun way to do just that!