Valentine's Day around the world
A couple kisses on Kiev's Bridge of Lovers in Ukraine yesterday.
In the United States alone, consumers were expected to spend $17 billion on cards, flowers, chocolates and expensive trinkets. And nearly half of Americans were expected to celebrate the day with a special night out. Globarati.com listed 10 hotels ideal for an intimate hideaway. These include Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico, Mykonos Grand in Mykonos, Greece, Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam and Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire in Hampshire, England. The Maltese like to pamper themselves on the day with a dinner for two, which can turn out to be quite an expensive fare, while most hotels offer special accommodation rates for couples. Others opt for a less expensive wine bar or the cinema which also offers advantageous rates for couples. But St Valentine's Day is not only a day for lovers; some adventurous singles try out their luck to find love on the day while others use the day to raise awareness on sensitive issues. Australians sought love speed-dating in deckchairs on Bondi Beach, while Filipinos sang syrupy ballards. Contrary to its racy reputation, Thailand told police and "student inspectors" to stake out motels, malls and parks to ensure youngsters behaved themselves on the "Day of Love", when polls say many teenagers have sex for the first time. In China, where homosexuality was listed as a mental illness until 2001, 20 gay and lesbian activists in Beijing marked the day by handing out roses to promote awareness and same-sex marriages. A day before Valentine's Day, more than 500 Japanese women sailed across the Ashino-ko lake at the foot of Mount Fuji, then trekked through a snow-covered forest to pray for love at the small red Kuzuryu shrine, a famous divine match-making site. On Valentine's Day, Japanese women give chocolate to men. Men give gifts to women on March 14th called White Day. This tradition started as a marketing tool for chocolate companies in Japan. Japanese women are encouraged to express love to men by giving chocolate and other gifts on February 14th. Valentine's Day in the Philippines was celebrated traditionally, with a riot of red and pink roses, heart-shaped cards and syrupy love ballads. In Bulgaria, lovers can officially ignore Valentine's Day because the day is given over to the celebration of wine and St Trifon The Pruner, although Valentine's Day popularity is quickly growing among the young.Although February 14 is popularly dedicated to St Valentine's, the confusion over its origins led the Catholic Church, in 1969, to drop St Valentine's Day from the Roman calendar of official, worldwide Catholic feasts. Instead, the feast of St Cyril and St Methodius is celebrated on February 14. Valentine's Day was first linked to romance by Chaucer in a 1381 poem, according to some references. The exchange of cards was popularised in England not long after. • Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine,the day probably took its name from a priest who was martyred about AD 270 by the Roman emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter to his jailer's daughter, with whom he had fallen in love, "from your Valentine". • The day may also have originated in the ancient Roman celebration of the Feast of Lupercalia in honour of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses, on February 14. Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage so honouring her was thought to be a fertility rite. • At the feast held the next day, the women would write love-letters and stick them in a large urn. The men would pick a letter from the urn and, for the next year, pursue the woman who wrote the chosen letter. This custom lasted centuries.
A male diver moves closer to kiss a female diver as a cupid diver waits in the background during a promotional campaign to entertain visitors at Manila's ocean park a day before Valentine's Day Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 (AP Photo/Pat Roque)Factbox Possible origins of Valentine's Day
Unfortunately for lovers in Saudi Arabia, religious police have banned red roses, forcing couples in the conservative Muslim nation to think of new ways to show their love.
Everywhere you look, love is in the air - except in Saudi Arabia. While people around the world celebrate Valentine's Day on Thursday, residents of Saudi Arabia are banned by law from participating. Roses have disappeared from the flower stands, and simply wearing red could get you arrested.
The Saudi religious police, commonly referred to as Muttawa, have enforced a ban on Valentine's Day because of its original connection to Saint Valentine. During the month of February, public items pertaining to love and romance are banned. The color red, festive candy, roses and hearts are prohibited, creating a unique underground Valentine’s scene for those who want to celebrate.
Many Saudi citizens - as well as foreign residents - oppose the government’s ruling and buck the ban. Romance takes on a new twist when spoiling your sweetheart requires dodging the law and dipping into the black market. But that’s what you have to do if you want to spread the love.
