Feel the Scandi love on Valentine's Day

While cards and chocolates are always nice, if you're looking to spoil your other half the Scandinavian way this Valentine's Day, then there are a few things you need to know.

From candy to days in the country, snowdrop letters to red roses, Scandinavians share their love on Valentine's Day in interesting ways. We've also rounded up a few of our favourite gifts to give or receive (well… we say you can also show yourself some love too!).

Sweden

In Sweden, Valentine's Day is called Alla Hjärtans Dag, meaning the 'day of all hearts', and even though there's only a population of around 10 million people, more than four million red roses are sold on this day alone.

Photograpy: Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se.

Norway

Norway celebrates 14 February in a similar manner, but it is known as Valentinsdagen or Alle Hjerters Dag. Norwegians, however, place more importance on experiences rather than gifts, and it is common for loved ones to spend the day out in nature together. It's also not unusual to go hiking or cycling on a first date either.

Photography: Aurora Stenersen/visitnorway.com.

Denmark

The Danes have a tradition called Gækkebreve, which loosely translates as ‘snowdrop letter’. This entails sending your Valentine a poem or rhyme on hand-cut paper, but instead of leaving a name at the end you put only dots. It’s said that if the receiver guesses who their letter and enclosed snowdrop flower is from, in return they must give their secret admirer an Easter egg on Easter Sunday.

Photography: Nic Berlin on Unsplash.

Gifts to buy

We're loving the new KYSS fragrance from Danish brand Skandinavisk. Meaning 'kiss' in Swedish, KYSS celebrates the emotional connection between two people. With scent notes of blackberries, roses, sugar candy and cloves, it's the perfect treat for those who make your heart sing and for the happiness they bring to your life. There's a scented candle (£35) and scent diffuser (£49).