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TAIWAN FUN MAGAZINE, February 2003.

Cover Story :

VALENTINE'S DAY: GLOBAL CELEBRATION WITH LOCAL VARIATIONS

By Aphrodite Hua  Translated by Sam Chien

      In the 1,500 years since February 14 was declared St. Valentine's Day by Pope Gelasius, people in different countries and at different times in history have approached the festival in very different ways.

      During the Middle Ages, in France and England it was widely believed that February 14 was the beginning of the birds' mating season. Thus it made sense that Valentine's Day should be a time for romance.

      Nowadays in Japan, and to a lesser extent in South Korea, Valentine's day is a day when girls express their love by presenting chocolates to boys they like. There is some evidence that this tradition was invented by a chocolate company just before World War II. It didn¡¦t really catch on until well into the 1960s, however ¡V perhaps because, until recently, Japanese females were not used to taking the initiative in matters of love. Typically, men who receive chocolates feel flattered, but are obliged to reward the girl or lady with a luxury dinner or an expensive gift, usually exactly one month later on March 14.

     The sending of cards is a major feature of Valentine's Day in Germany. In Britain, many Valentine¡¦s cards are sent anonymously ¡V sometimes by secret admirers, but occasionally by practical jokers hoping to embarrass married men or women.

      In Italy, the most important Valentine¡¦s Day tradition is the giving of chocolates and flowers to girlfriends, says Andrea Zadra, who runs the Italian Cowboy Bar in Tainan. ¡§It¡¦s also usual to give three red roses,¡¨ adds Zadra, known as ¡§Andy¡¨ to his customers. ¡§I don¡¦t know why, but it¡¦s a tradition going back at least 100 years.¡¨

      According to Elena Chen of Meson Espanol, a Spanish restaurant on Kaohsiung¡¦s Heti Road, Valentine¡¦s Day in Spain is not so different to the celebration in Taiwan. However, in Spain ¡V unlike Taiwan ¡V a lot of married couples also celebrate the occasion: ¡§They get someone to look after their kids, so they can go out and enjoy themselves, too!¡¨

      Andi Kux, the Austrian proprietor of Andi¡¦s Party Corner, a Tainan restaurant, says that in his native land, older couples tend to mark Valentine¡¦ Day in high-end establishments, while young couples go for less expensive places. ¡§Older couples are more likely to express their love with gold or diamonds,¡¨ he adds. ¡§So jewelry stores do well.¡¨ He¡¦s noticed one big difference between Austria and Taiwan: Unlike their counterparts here, florists in Austria do not dare hike their prices on Valentine¡¦s Day. ¡§If they did, they¡¦d lose their licenses for breaching regulations,¡¨ he remarks.

     Turkey is predominantly Muslim, yet Valentine¡¦s Day is quite popular there. Romantic dinners, and the giving of flowers and presents, are common in the larger, more Westernized cities, according to Kuo Yiyi, a Taiwanese who returned to this island last summer after more than a decade living in Turkey. ¡§A lot of people will take a package trip to a resort on the Mediterranean for three days/two nights,¡¨ says Kuo, who now runs Turk Evi, Tainan¡¦s only Turkish restaurant. ¡§But in the southeast, no one knows, no one cares about Valentine¡¦s Day.¡¨

      In the Netherlands, people didn't even think about celebrating Valentine's Day until about 15 years ago, according to the Dutch proprietor of Taichung's popular Fatty's Italian Restaurant and Smooth Bar & Grill, Hendrik Frijling. However, given Holland's reputation, it is no surprise that the giving of flowers (roses and not tulips, which might give the wrong message, says Hendrik) is a big deal today. Naturally, the flower prices go up with demand, just like they do in Taiwan.

     According to South African Gabi Lautenbach, who works as high school librarian at Morrison Academy, Valentine's Day in her country is also a more recent phenomenon that is exclusive to more intimate relationships. "It's not as big as in the States. You wouldn't give a card to your friends or teachers, but just boyfriends or girlfriends," she notes, adding that cards, gifts and special dates are the usual avenue for expressing one's affections.

 HOW TO AVOID AN AWFUL VALENTINE¡¦S DAY

      Valentine¡¦s Day can be make or break. If things go badly, it could spell the end of the relationship. But a wonderful occasion could lead to wedding bells.

      Gifts, while not always necessary, are a potential minefield. A microwave oven might be practical, but it¡¦s hardly romantic. Jewelry is a safe but expensive bet. Guys who like to give ¡§sexy¡¨ presents should weigh the words of an anonymous American woman who contributed this observation to an Internet forum: ¡§A man who spends a fortune on risque lingerie for his girlfriend is essentially giving himself a present, if you know what I mean.¡¨

      If you find yourself short of cash as the day approaches, consider making something by hand ¡V aesthetics aside, the effort will surely be appreciated. Alternatively, ask a dozen friends to leave this message on your lover¡¦s answering machine: ¡§Hi X! I just called to let you know [X¡¦s boyfriend/girlfriend] loves you very much and wants to wish you a Happy Valentine¡¦s Day!¡¨

      If you¡¦re going out for dinner, reserve a table. Few ladies will forget the humiliation of dressing up nicely for the evening, then having to dine in a fast-food joint because all the choice restaurants were full.

     If the city you live in is not so big, you might well run into a former lover. If you¡¦ve changed boyfriend or girlfriend since Valentine¡¦s Day 2002, it might be best to celebrate somewhere a little out of the way. Kaohsiung and Tainan are less than an hour apart ¡V take your date and the latest copy of FYI SOUTH, jump on a train and have fun in an unfamiliar city!