Valentine’s Day!

2 minute read

484013_10151400481274669_163536849_nValentine's Day Card

Valentine's day - 14th of February right? Wrong. Valentine's day is celebrated on the 14th of January...well, at least by my husband and I. And let me just say at the outset that I am using the word 'celebrated' pretty loosely here. After all, everyone knows that Valentine's Day is for schmucks. It's just an overly commercialised American holiday adopted by Australia and Australians because of our deeply concerning and bizarre relationship with America which generally involves us emulating our star spangled banner friends and seeking their constant approval. It's a day purely designed to make Hallmark and florists the world over lots of money. Lots.

This cynical, sardonic viewpoint is the default position, unless of course you have someone to celebrate with, in which case Valentine's day becomes a triumphant acknowledgement and honouring of love and devotion to your special someone. It becomes a day of romance, poems about roses and violets and actual roses and violets.

Falling somewhat reluctantly into this second category, my husband and I usually go out and enjoy a nice meal on Valentine's day and exchange cute cards. And of course, I am usually presented with a bunch of flowers. Sweet. So far so good, nothing unusual or out of place there.

But what of the date mix up? You must be wondering what this nonsense about the 14th of January is all about. Well firstly, I'll have you know it isn't nonsense, it's actually quite thoughtful and romantic. And secondly, well there isn't really a second point to make except to say that there is a reason for this date change. And here it is...

Some time ago, when my now husband discovered that I was born on the 14th of February, a date known all around the world as Valentine's Day (and by 'all around the world' I mean every place that actually matters. Relax, I kid!), he told me that I shouldn't have to share my birthday with all the loved up losers spending cash just because they'd been told to. I agreed. So he said that if I wanted, we could celebrate Valentine's day on the 14th of January instead. I said I wanted. That's when I knew he was a keeper. And that's when we too joined the loved up loser society laying out cash for absolutely no reason other than not wanting to look like we are anti-love amongst all our American adoring peers.

And so, for us, Valentine's day is and always will be celebrated on the 14th of January. As it turns out, this year, Valentine's day was a sweltering hot 44 degree celsius day. So needless to say, but I will say it anyway, our celebratory dinner took place on the 18th of January when the weather decided to normalise. And even though I had been holding out for Madame Sou Sou's trademark creme brulee all week only to be presented with a dessert menu from which it was noticeably absent, it was still fun and romantic and enjoyable and all those things that should be a apart of our lives on a daily basis.

Love and hugs,
Gleeko.

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