Global Q&A: ‘Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?’

Medellín, Colombia

Cristina Herrera Murgueitio, 22, Advertising Graphics Communicator

Yes I do celebrate it. In fact I love to celebrate this day, because I take it to express my love and affection to all the people who are always close to me, giving me support to make me a better person day after day. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to give gifts, and spend time with the people I love most; like my family, my boyfriend, and friends. On this day, I like to do things that are not common, such as giving love notes and beautiful surprises.

New Jersey, USA

Lese Franklin, 27, Performing Art Musical Theater Dancer

Yes! I usually go to Allentown, Pa., where I hang out with my girl friends (my family lives there as well). I like Italian food so we’ll probably eat at the Olive Garden before going out. And hey, maybe I’ll meet someone.

Dalby, Sweden

Miriam, Andersson, 46, High School Teacher

Yes, of course it is important to celebrate Valentine’s Day—the day of love. My husband and I celebrate it in a pretty modest way. But I actually think that it is important to show love to each other every day in our marriage.

Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil

Rosangela Andrade Severo Prado, 34, Fiscal Agent Transport

Yes, I celebrate. I’ve been married for 11 years and never fail to celebrate it. If the date exists, then it is good to celebrate it, but to me, every day is Valentine’s Day. It is unfair to remember the loved one just this single date, and forgetting it the other 364 days of the year.

Bangalore, India

Purnavi Sundaram, 23, Post Graduate Student

Valentine’s Day holds no special significance for me, but I do make it a point to spend time with loved ones over a fancy lunch or dinner to celebrate it. Everyday is Valentine’s Day for me, and is worth celebrating! I make sure my loved ones are always made to feel special all the time—be it Valentine’s Day or not.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Pamella de Leon, 21, Student

In a way, yes. I usually go for a fun night out with close friends. I think when you love your loved ones, you do not need a holiday to encourage you to express your love. You have everyday for that.

Nafpaktos, Greece

Anna Galanopoulou, 20, Student

When I was younger I used to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Nowadays, [I do] not anymore.

Buderim, Australia

Glenda McPherson, Media Manager/Health and Nutrition Business

I celebrate Valentine’s Day because I think it’s very important that we show love on a daily basis. And I think it’s nice to bring back romance because I think a lot of that’s dead now, and I think everyone’s concentrating on all the doom and gloom, and not the fun side of life. I think we should be happy to be alive, and in love.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “What do you think the future of radio will look like?”

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