We are safely past what seems to have become a global love-fest every year on February 14.  However, not everybody is so keen to celebrate a day  named after a Christian saint said to have been martyred by the Romans in the 3rd Century.

Indeed, the Saudi Religous Police and State media take a dim view of anyone even displaying anything red never mind hearts.  Associated Press recently reported that,  “Those who don’t comply will be punished,” according to the  official statement, without going into detail of the precise measures that would befall the offenders.

This Valentine’s Day prohibition reflects Saudi’s strict Wahhabi school of Islam.  Not surprisingly, the birthplace of Islam also bans several Muslim holidays except the two most important ones because it considers them “religious innovations” that Islam doesn’t sanction.

For marketers and advertisers the point here is that hearts and red are not anathma during the rest of the year, only on the day itself.  So with a bit of sensitivity these symbols can be used in ‘romantic ways’ in Saudi bearing in mind that romance takes place behind closed doors with married couples.

Other Muslim countries have very different views towards  St. Valentine’s day and romance in general and even within the Gulf itself.  Reinforcing the need to localize campaigns style, imagery and messaging.

Under Soviet authority religious holidays were either suppressed or replaced.  Prior to 1989 Russian and their fellow soviets celebrated International Women’s Day which is a heady cocktail of St.Valentines day and Mother’s day and held on March 8 each year.  When, woe betide any son,  brother,  uncle,  nephew,  father that does not turn up laden with roses, chocolates and perfume for all his female relatives.

Celebration of this holiday is stronger then ever today in Russia but that has not prevented the adoption of  the familiar romantic rituals of St. Valentines day in the larger cities.  Today this holiday is observed in some 56 countries from Albania to Zambia. (Full list is here).

What you may not know is that the first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.  Three words  that you rarely see together in the same sentence.

Thus confirming that one of the key items in any global marketer  toolkit is a calendar of world holidays.  An item equally important to the logistics of any campaign as so the creative development and messaging.

Oh yes and just complete matters the year of Tiger also began on February 14, 2010!

p.s. Wordbank and I will be at Technology for Marketing and Advertising Exhibtion London  from 23-24 February. Stand E46!