Valentines Day around the world
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I thought Valentine Day was a tradition in Catholic countries only, St Valentine being the patron (?) of Lovers and celebrated on February, 14 (cf http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv06.htm[^]). But as with any other religious celebrations, mercantilism made its work, and transformed a act of faith in a act of consumption: Are the supermarkets our new churches?
And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget Back and forth through my mind Behind a cigarette
A day to celebrate love? Sounds like a good thing to me. Bring more of them on. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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Hasn't this happened with most religious holidays? Christmas, Easter, even the whole period of lent has become commercialized. It's simply capitalism at work, responding to a demand with a supply. -- Adam "If you can't beat your computer in chess, try kickboxing"
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Paul Watson wrote: You did remember it is this Saturday, right? What fool put it on a Saturday. Don't they know Saturday is Football day here in the UK. Either there is going to be some half-empty grounds, or some very disappointed women this year. Paul Watson wrote: If I remember right the UK celebrates it too We sure do, although celebrate is a little too strong a word. Shops are full of cards, newspapers/magazines are full of lovey-dovey articles. I've always seen Valentines day as a bit of a guilt thing. A day that says "You mess it up 364 days a year, so here's a day where you'd better get it right". Of course some of my biggest romantic successes have been born from my actions on Valentines day... sadly, some of my worst defeats have also stemmed from the day. Not sure about this year yet, one of those years where I'm not 100% sure about the signals :-O Michael But you know when the truth is told, That you can get what you want or you can just get old, Your're going to kick off before you even get halfway through. When will you realise... Vienna waits for you? - "The Stranger," Billy Joel
Michael P Butler wrote: Either there is going to be some half-empty grounds, or some very disappointed women this year. And on this Saturday is also beginning the Six Nations Tournament! Women will be delighted :-D
And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget Back and forth through my mind Behind a cigarette
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You did remember it is this Saturday, right? The 14th for those who have forgotten, best to unforget so that the 15th is not spent on the couch :) I wanted to ask; Is it celebrated in your country? It is pretty big here in South Africa, certainly a day you would not want to forget. But Brian tells me it is not big in Germany. If I remember right the UK celebrates it too and I am pretty sure the States does. Any Germans care to clue me in? I kind of have a vested interest and thought Lena was just keeping mum to see if I remembered. Maybe she does not even know? Weird. Damn roses are expensive this time of year :rolleyes: What about places like India (all those chauvinists! probably don't give roses to their women but expect them in return, humph! ;) ) and the far east? Do Aussies have a romantic bone in their body, or is Valentines day somehow made into a sporting event by them? Other European countries? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: ...roses are expensive this time of year Buy carnations instead. They last as long, if not longer, than roses, and do not cost nearly as much. The balance of the monies you would have spent can go towards something more practical.
A rich person is not the one who has the most, but the one that needs the least.
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You did remember it is this Saturday, right? The 14th for those who have forgotten, best to unforget so that the 15th is not spent on the couch :) I wanted to ask; Is it celebrated in your country? It is pretty big here in South Africa, certainly a day you would not want to forget. But Brian tells me it is not big in Germany. If I remember right the UK celebrates it too and I am pretty sure the States does. Any Germans care to clue me in? I kind of have a vested interest and thought Lena was just keeping mum to see if I remembered. Maybe she does not even know? Weird. Damn roses are expensive this time of year :rolleyes: What about places like India (all those chauvinists! probably don't give roses to their women but expect them in return, humph! ;) ) and the far east? Do Aussies have a romantic bone in their body, or is Valentines day somehow made into a sporting event by them? Other European countries? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
In Japan, the girls give the guys chocolates. Chocolate makers have a conspiracy going or something. In any event there are two types: obligation chocolates and "the good stuff". She would give out obligation chocolates to friends and aquaintances where the box is kind of plain. "The good stuff" comes in a really nice box, can be somewhat expensive, and all around a better quality hand made chocolate for the guy she really really really loves. A good hint if you happen to be in Japan around this time of year and you are a guy: don't buy chocolates. You'll get weird looks and giggles and possibly rumors...
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Paul Watson wrote: ...roses are expensive this time of year Buy carnations instead. They last as long, if not longer, than roses, and do not cost nearly as much. The balance of the monies you would have spent can go towards something more practical.
A rich person is not the one who has the most, but the one that needs the least.
Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love ;) "Hun, no roses this year, too expensive, but I got you this new teflon coated egg lifter instead!" :-D She would tell me where to shove it. I am not too concerned with cliches. Only one girl I know who genuinely prefers white roses to red, some of the others say they don't want roses, but when the day comes and you give them carnations... well you can see they wanted roses :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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You did remember it is this Saturday, right? The 14th for those who have forgotten, best to unforget so that the 15th is not spent on the couch :) I wanted to ask; Is it celebrated in your country? It is pretty big here in South Africa, certainly a day you would not want to forget. But Brian tells me it is not big in Germany. If I remember right the UK celebrates it too and I am pretty sure the States does. Any Germans care to clue me in? I kind of have a vested interest and thought Lena was just keeping mum to see if I remembered. Maybe she does not even know? Weird. Damn roses are expensive this time of year :rolleyes: What about places like India (all those chauvinists! probably don't give roses to their women but expect them in return, humph! ;) ) and the far east? Do Aussies have a romantic bone in their body, or is Valentines day somehow made into a sporting event by them? Other European countries? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Valentine's day is indeed celebrated in the US, but only by some people. Those who *do* celebrate it: :bob: Couples who have been together for more than a month but less than 5 years. Those who *don't* celebrate ite: :bob: Singles with no significant other. :bob: Married people. :bob: Poor people. :-D "I'd be up a piece if I hadn't swallowed my bishop." Mr. Ed, playing chess
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Valentine's day is indeed celebrated in the US, but only by some people. Those who *do* celebrate it: :bob: Couples who have been together for more than a month but less than 5 years. Those who *don't* celebrate ite: :bob: Singles with no significant other. :bob: Married people. :bob: Poor people. :-D "I'd be up a piece if I hadn't swallowed my bishop." Mr. Ed, playing chess
Wow, my parents celebrated valentines right up until they divorced, 25 years of it or so. A Polish couple I know (sadly both died last year) were married for 60 years and celebrated it each year, they really went to town and treated each other rotten on the day. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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You did remember it is this Saturday, right? The 14th for those who have forgotten, best to unforget so that the 15th is not spent on the couch :) I wanted to ask; Is it celebrated in your country? It is pretty big here in South Africa, certainly a day you would not want to forget. But Brian tells me it is not big in Germany. If I remember right the UK celebrates it too and I am pretty sure the States does. Any Germans care to clue me in? I kind of have a vested interest and thought Lena was just keeping mum to see if I remembered. Maybe she does not even know? Weird. Damn roses are expensive this time of year :rolleyes: What about places like India (all those chauvinists! probably don't give roses to their women but expect them in return, humph! ;) ) and the far east? Do Aussies have a romantic bone in their body, or is Valentines day somehow made into a sporting event by them? Other European countries? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Big ad campaign going on here, with hockey night on valentines day. Some stores have flip coins with "Watch Hockey" on one side, and "Go out for dinner" on the other.:laugh: I won't be celebrating. Why do women pick this week to break up?:sigh: "For all of our languages, we cannot communicate" - Christy Moore, Natives
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Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love ;) "Hun, no roses this year, too expensive, but I got you this new teflon coated egg lifter instead!" :-D She would tell me where to shove it. I am not too concerned with cliches. Only one girl I know who genuinely prefers white roses to red, some of the others say they don't want roses, but when the day comes and you give them carnations... well you can see they wanted roses :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love I suppose that depends on what you put first in the relationship. There is a time and place for niceties, but purchased roses on Valentine's day is not one of those. Buying into the cliché is the primary reason that prices are more than exaggerated for a simple flower. Do the wise thing and plant a rose bush or two in your yard (I have a pink one and a yellow one that produce some really big blooms). Then you can have a flower most months of the year and it costs nothing! They also make nice backgrounds for photographs. If you must spend, at least do it frugally. The idiom penny-wise, pound-foolish comes to mind here.
A rich person is not the one who has the most, but the one that needs the least.
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Big ad campaign going on here, with hockey night on valentines day. Some stores have flip coins with "Watch Hockey" on one side, and "Go out for dinner" on the other.:laugh: I won't be celebrating. Why do women pick this week to break up?:sigh: "For all of our languages, we cannot communicate" - Christy Moore, Natives
Eish, that is harsh man, my condolences. A guy dumps a girl in Valentines week (or her birthday week or Christmas, New Years etc. weeks) then he is a heartless, thoughtless, insensitive bastard. A girl does it and the guy had it coming. Go figure. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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Paul Watson wrote: Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love I suppose that depends on what you put first in the relationship. There is a time and place for niceties, but purchased roses on Valentine's day is not one of those. Buying into the cliché is the primary reason that prices are more than exaggerated for a simple flower. Do the wise thing and plant a rose bush or two in your yard (I have a pink one and a yellow one that produce some really big blooms). Then you can have a flower most months of the year and it costs nothing! They also make nice backgrounds for photographs. If you must spend, at least do it frugally. The idiom penny-wise, pound-foolish comes to mind here.
A rich person is not the one who has the most, but the one that needs the least.
Cost me more to grow roses here and send them to my German girlfriend than to buy them from interflora.com :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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Eish, that is harsh man, my condolences. A guy dumps a girl in Valentines week (or her birthday week or Christmas, New Years etc. weeks) then he is a heartless, thoughtless, insensitive bastard. A girl does it and the guy had it coming. Go figure. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: Eish, that is harsh man, my condolences. A guy dumps a girl in Valentines week (or her birthday week or Christmas, New Years etc. weeks) then he is a heartless, thoughtless, insensitive bastard. A girl does it and the guy had it coming. Go figure. Makes you wonder who made the rules, eh? :-D "I'd be up a piece if I hadn't swallowed my bishop." Mr. Ed, playing chess
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Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love ;) "Hun, no roses this year, too expensive, but I got you this new teflon coated egg lifter instead!" :-D She would tell me where to shove it. I am not too concerned with cliches. Only one girl I know who genuinely prefers white roses to red, some of the others say they don't want roses, but when the day comes and you give them carnations... well you can see they wanted roses :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love Ah, but there's so much to be said for practicality. Sure, it is a nice token gesture to go all out and spend a fortune on your beloved... but on the other hand, many couples break up because of money problems. :sigh: "I'd be up a piece if I hadn't swallowed my bishop." Mr. Ed, playing chess
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You did remember it is this Saturday, right? The 14th for those who have forgotten, best to unforget so that the 15th is not spent on the couch :) I wanted to ask; Is it celebrated in your country? It is pretty big here in South Africa, certainly a day you would not want to forget. But Brian tells me it is not big in Germany. If I remember right the UK celebrates it too and I am pretty sure the States does. Any Germans care to clue me in? I kind of have a vested interest and thought Lena was just keeping mum to see if I remembered. Maybe she does not even know? Weird. Damn roses are expensive this time of year :rolleyes: What about places like India (all those chauvinists! probably don't give roses to their women but expect them in return, humph! ;) ) and the far east? Do Aussies have a romantic bone in their body, or is Valentines day somehow made into a sporting event by them? Other European countries? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Images of Valentine's Day around the world: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2762427.stm[^] Looks like it's celebrated almost everywhere (though there is some controversy in Muslim and Hindu countries). ------------------------------------------ Law of Nazi Analogies: As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one. In any debate, Hitler's opinion on the subject is automatically the evil one, so it had better be contrary to the side you're arguing.
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Paul Watson wrote: Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love Ah, but there's so much to be said for practicality. Sure, it is a nice token gesture to go all out and spend a fortune on your beloved... but on the other hand, many couples break up because of money problems. :sigh: "I'd be up a piece if I hadn't swallowed my bishop." Mr. Ed, playing chess
A balance is good as always. For me, my girl is a long, long way away. I can't be with her. It is also a new relationship, I can't go sending her egg flippers or a new sewing machine. Roses, a card and a phone call is the best we can do and frankly, it is rather marvelous. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
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Of course, for sure, celebrate each day, make every day special. Buy her flowers when you want, make her dinner on a whim. But still, Feb 14th is a fun day, why not go all out. Like Christmas, you can't have your whole family around every weekend with a tree and lights and a big lunch. It is very fashionable to scorn Valentines and Easter and the other commercialised days. I say don't. I say, enjoy it. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: why not go all out....I say, enjoy it. Absolutely! Bring it all up a level. Celebrate the everyday, and go crazy on designated holidays. :cool: :jig: BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
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Paul Watson wrote: Wish someone could explain this dating lark to me. I mean, do you go out with a girl knowing it won't be long term, just a passing fancy? How do you like someone enough to go out for dinner and a shag but not enough to see her the following weekend? It's not quite like that. First of all, some background. I live in the DEEP Southeast of the U.S. Where all the redneck, conservative, religious people are. I would love to say this is an overgeneralization but unfortunately it only is some of the time. The big thing is that people here don't really aim to succed a lot of the time. The women that I meet on a regular basis may have been brought up well and gotten a college degree, but the norm is still...then you find a husband and have babies and life is over. I don't subscribe as much to this view. I like working women that can hold an intelligent conversation with me. Hence, in this area, me being 23 and single is an exception, not the rule. Most of my relationships actually last 3-6 months and usually it is a mutual thing of "Ready-to-move-on-itis" and not a "That was good, now go away". Paul Watson wrote: And the whole "Still too young to be tied down" thing is nonsense IMO. She comes when she comes. I actually agree with this. I don't think she'll be coming anytime soon. Think I'm not ready, but I'm not denying the possibility that 3-6 months will turn into much longer.
dbeDoDGuy wrote: then you find a husband and have babies and life is over. no kidding, man! Try being 33 and single in the South Carolina. If you happen upon someone between 26 and 36 who is actually single and attractive, she's still looking to settle down ASAP. Either her clocks ticking, or her children need a father.* *I have nothing against dating a woman with children or who has been divorced, it just isn't my first choice. BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
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Practicality. I believe that is an antonym of love ;) "Hun, no roses this year, too expensive, but I got you this new teflon coated egg lifter instead!" :-D She would tell me where to shove it. I am not too concerned with cliches. Only one girl I know who genuinely prefers white roses to red, some of the others say they don't want roses, but when the day comes and you give them carnations... well you can see they wanted roses :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Christopher Duncan quoted: "...that would require my explaining Einstein's Fear of Relatives" Crikey! ain't life grand? Einstein says...
Paul Watson wrote: some of the others say they don't want roses A friend of mine couldn't stand when her husband used to give her roses. She doesn't like them. Thinks they are ugly flowers, and are too cliche. She's a wild flower(daisy's in partiicular) type of gal. The key is too know your girlfriend, and know what she wants. BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
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In Japan, the girls give the guys chocolates. Chocolate makers have a conspiracy going or something. In any event there are two types: obligation chocolates and "the good stuff". She would give out obligation chocolates to friends and aquaintances where the box is kind of plain. "The good stuff" comes in a really nice box, can be somewhat expensive, and all around a better quality hand made chocolate for the guy she really really really loves. A good hint if you happen to be in Japan around this time of year and you are a guy: don't buy chocolates. You'll get weird looks and giggles and possibly rumors...
Interesting variation. Do the guys do anything for their women then? Is that left to regular days? BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."