Valentine’s Day…interestingly enough is a holiday celebrated throughout the world, and it has been around for many many years. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In the second half of the twentieth century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine’s Day as an occasion for giving jewelry.
I found a couple of interesting ways other countries celebrate Valentine’s Day. In Finland Valentine’s Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into “Friend’s day”. As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones. In Guatemala and in El Salvador, Valentine’s Day is known as “Día del Amor y la Amistad” which then translates to “Day of Love and Friendship”. Although it is similar to the United States’ version in many ways, it is also common to see people do “acts of appreciation” for their friends.
Although sometimes jokingly referred to as “Singles Awareness Day”, for obvious reasons, wouldn’t it be nice if we practiced as those in Finland, Guatemala and El Salvador and remembered our friends with some “acts of appreciation?” Of course not necessarily with a dozen roses, but maybe just a small bouquet to set upon a desk. There are so many happy feelings that can come from just looking at or being asked about a nice arrangement of flowers. You know why not just buy yourself some flowers from the Garden Gate, Cedar Rapids IA Valentine’s Day Florist while you’re at it, who says you have to wait for someone to send you flowers. Make it a Happy Valentine’s Day.
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