Valentines day 2009 in Central and South America

In Guatemala, Valentine's Day is known as "Día del Amor y la Amistad" (Day of Love and Friendship). Although it is similar to the United States, the version in many respects, it is also common to see people do "acts of recognition" for their friends. [32]

In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados (lit. "Day of Love", or "Boyfriends' / Girlfriends' Day") is celebrated on June 12, when couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards and packages flowers. This day was chosen because it is likely the eve of the Feast of Saint-Antoine junina of the day, he knows that the sacred marriage, traditionally, when many single women perform popular rituals, called Simpatia, to find a good husband or boyfriend. On 14 February of Valentine is not celebrated at all, mainly for cultural and commercial reasons, because it usually falls too little before or after Carnival, a major floating holiday in Brazil - long regarded as leave sex and debauchery of many in the country [33] - which can fall anywhere from early February to early March.

In most of South America the Día del amor y la amistad (lit. "Love and Friendship Day") and the Amigo secreto ( "Secret friend") are very popular and, Generally, all celebrated on 14 February (one exception is Colombia, where it is celebrated on September 20th). This consists of randomly allocated to each participant a recipient must be given an anonymous gift (similar to Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).