Valentine’s – the day of love in Yemen [Archives:2006/921/Last Page]
By: Amel Al-Ariqi
& Adel Al-Haddad’,1,’Abeer, a school student: “To me, Valentine’s Day is a very special day. I have no boyfriend or husband to celebrate it with, so instead I have made my own ceremonies. I wear red clothes, listen to romantic music, buy chocolate, and in general try to be in a good mood. Many of my friends from school celebrate Valentine’s Day. The girls give each other flowers, toys, cards and chocolate, sometimes they even give their teachers presents.”
Akram Ali, an employee at a private company: “Valentine’s Day is all about refreshing love and emotions with sweet words. The gifts are secondary.”
Lwo’ai Khaled, a university student: “I consider Valentine’s Day a unique chance for lovers to be together and express mutual emotions as well as gifts to show their appreciation of each other. I prefer to celebrate this day by going to public parks. This year I gave my love a red toy bear and a red rose.”
Samira, an employee at a private company: “I did not celebrate Valentine’s Day until I got engaged two years ago. My fiance usually calls me on the morning of Valentine’s and invites me to a restaurant where we have lunch and exchange gifts. These gifts are not expensive ones. It is more important to us, that they are special in some way, so we make some of the gifts ourselves. For instance, for last year’s Valentine’s Day I had collected a lot of romantic poems from the internet and put them in a notebook. As far as clothes are concerned, I like to wear something red, but not too attractive. I don’t want to attract the attention of my workmates or people in the street, so I wear something simple like a red shirt or a red brooch.”
Manal, a university student: “I never celebrate Valentine’s Day. The celebration of such a day does not belong within our religion and beliefs. In Islam, we celebrate Friday of every week and Eid. To express your love in one particular day seems weird to me. I mean, if you love someone you can express this love the whole year. Waiting for a certain day to buy gifts does not make sense to me.”
Haifa Hasen, a government official: “Valentine’s Day makes me think of my first love. For two years I have celebrated this day by exchanging gifts with my loved one. Usually I give him red flowers.”
Mashari Al-Husini, a housewife: “On every Feb 14 in the last seven years, I have celebrated Valentine’s Day with my husband. I think this day is a nice opportunity for couples to refresh their feelings towards each other.”
