Daily Life
Why Taiwan Has So Many Valentine's Days
Taiwan celebrates love several times a year: Western Valentine's Day on February 14, White Day on March 14, the digital favorite May 20 (520 sounds like 'I love you' in Mandarin), and the traditional Qixi Festival on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when the legendary Cowherd and Weaver Girl reunite across the Milky Way. Explaining why one island needs four Valentine's Days is a perfect conversation starter.
Lesson preview
Warmup: Romantic Calendars
5 MIN- How many Valentine's Days do you usually celebrate in a year, and which one is your favorite? (Note: favorite (US) = favourite (UK))
- Do you think having multiple romantic holidays is a sweet tradition or just a marketing trick?
- How do people in Taiwan typically celebrate romantic occasions compared to other countries?
Reading: A Year-Round Romance
10 MINWhile most of the world is content with a single day of romance on February 14th, Taiwan takes a far more enthusiastic approach to celebrating love. Throughout the year, couples on the island find themselves marking no fewer than four distinct Valentine's Days. This unique phenomenon is a fascinating blend of imported Western traditions, East Asian pop culture, modern digital slang, and ancient folklore, showcasing Taiwan's highly adaptable and expressive cultural landscape.
The romantic calendar kicks off with the globally recognized Western Valentine's Day on February 14th, closely followed by White Day on March 14th. Imported from Japan, White Day serves as a reciprocal occasion where those who received chocolates or gifts a month prior return the favor. Before long, May 20th arrives. Known as '520', this digital holiday gained traction because the numbers 'five, two, zero' sound remarkably similar to 'I love you' in Mandarin, making it a favorite for online confessions and spontaneous marriage registrations.
Finally, late summer brings the Qixi Festival, the traditional Chinese Valentine's Day. Rooted in a bittersweet legend, it commemorates the annual reunion of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (牛郎織女) across a bridge of magpies over the Milky Way. Critics argue that these frequent celebrations are fueled by clever marketing campaigns designed to boost consumer spending. Nevertheless, for many Taiwanese couples, they offer welcome opportunities to pause their hectic lives, express gratitude, and cherish their partners in a fast-paced world.