Happy Valentine’s Day!
Or should that be Joyeuse Saint-Valentin, or perhaps Feliz Dia dos Namorados?
Valentine’s Day is celebrated throughout the English-speaking world but what about elsewhere? It’s certainly a big deal in much of East Asia. In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is so beloved that it is the most popular day to get married! However, it could be a mistake to send out a blanket Valentine’s Day message to the whole world.
In many Latin American countries, the 14th of February incorporates themes of friendship, celebrating platonic as well as romantic love. Rather than Saint Valentine, it is known as Dia de los Enamorados (Lovers’ Day) and Día del Amor y la Amistad (Love & Friendship Day). Meanwhile, in other countries and cultures, there are alternative days for celebrating love, as well as or instead of the 14th of February. Enter White Day in Japan (14th March), Dia dos Namorados in Brazil (12th June), Dragobete in Romania (24th February) and, a little closer to home, Saint Dwynwen’s Day in Wales (25th January).
So, what’s the moral of this little stroll down Lovers’ Lane? Put simply, it’s not always enough to translate your message from source to target language. To be really successful, take the time to shape your message for the local culture – or ‘localise’ it in the lingo.
