Happy Valentine’s Day

Around the world, February 14^th is a day known for acknowledging appreciation and celebrating romance and love in different ways.

In Japan, for Valentine’s Day, girls give chocolates to boys, and then on March 14, the boys reciprocate.  

In France, love letters and poems are given.   

In Italy, chocolates are given with messages inside the wrappers.

In the Philippines, mass marriages take place.

In the United States, it is customary to give cards, gifts, or flowers, perhaps even with a romantic dinner or getaway.

In recent years, the idea of Love Locks has grown in popularity. These started with couples writing their names or initials on a sturdy lock, attaching them to a bridge, and then throwing the key in the river to symbolize unbroken love and love for eternity.

Love locks were placed on love bridges in many European and Asian cities, such as Paris, Rome, Ljubavi, Serbia, Cologne, Salzburg, Moscow, Prague, and Seoul. Even in the U.S., Lock bridges can be found in Agusta, Pittsburg, St. Louis, Napa Valley, and Loveland. Since thousands of locks cause weight problems and can weaken the bridge structure, they are removed but may reappear on fences.

I think they’re romantic.

 

You may ask what kinds of Valentine’s Day gifts my husband likes to give me. In the past, it was always a heart pendant. Then, when he proclaimed I had all the jewelry I could ever want (not true), he brought me a vase of beautiful flowers… from the grocery store… with the tag still on it… at the last minute.

Bless his heart.

More recently, his gift has been a box of Turtles because that’s his favorite.

He eats all of them but leaves me two unless they’re in the box for a week, in which case he has dibs.

He also knows I’m not a chocoholic and don’t eat chocolate very often, so for him, it’s a win/win.

However, his secret power is the ability to pick out the very best greeting card!

My heart melts.

Sometimes, there’s a gift card inside; for me, it’s a win/win.