4 Ways British and American Valentine's Day is Very Different
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- Oh dear. Valentine's Day is upon us. Here's how (I think) Britain and America differ in their approach to it.
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My husband is not allowed to give me flowers on Valentine's Day without a receipt, because he's a funeral director! 🤣 We have been married for over 24 years.
🤢, I don't blame you at all.
Very, very funny!!!
@Cyan Kirkpatrick I mean it's not like the flowers touch the corpse and flowers are so bad for the environment
@K A that doesn't matter. No one wants second hand - funeral flowers for a love day. Come on, that just bad form chap. You work, you can buy flowers. Better yet, stop and pick some if you live in the south. She'll love that more
🤣🤣🤣
When I was about 10, I asked my parents (born in 1921) why Daddy never gave Mommy a box of chocolates and a card ON Valentine's Day itself. They looked at me with the sort of genuine horror that can only be experienced by people who lived through the Great Depression. "If you buy the candy before Valentine's Day," Daddy explained, "it's FULL PRICE." My mother added, "Yes, if you wait until the next day, all the candy and cards and flowers are marked down 50%, and you can get TWICE AS MANY."
I love this!!
I love how both your parents were fully on board with this. 🙂
In the UK the larger shops usually remove all that candy and you cant buy it the next day. No idea where it goes.. some discount warehouse I guess to be sold off to market traders? You would be disappointed if you want next day candy here
Amen amen amen!
Absolutely. My favorite holiday is "day after candy sale"
Laurence , I am from the USA. My husband used to buy me a card , and box of Candy . I made a homemade card for him , and gave him candy treats . We didn’t eat out , but ate at home. I think of him on all holidays , as he has been in heaven for almost ten years . We were married about 46 years when he died❤️
My only boyfriend ❣️
💝💞💕
💞
❤💜🧡🤍💛🤎💙💖👍😎✌
❤❤❤❤❤❤
I once bought my mother a Valentine's card that looked like a child had made it. It read "Happy Valentine's Day" on the front. On the inside it read, "I love you more than construction paper and paste can say." Yeah, my mom didn't get the joke. She never did get my sense of humor.
VietNam veteran meets his Dream Girl on Valentines Day 1973, 50 years
ago. Ten months later, while still college, we got married.
4 children and 9 grandchildren later we are still happily married.
Laurence, you just literally accidentally hit the trifecta of memory saving for husbands with Valentine's Day, your anniversary, and your wife's birthday so close together. :)
Jwb52z, He's not the only one. For me however December through February is murder on my savings to ovoid the little woman's ire. Since (in order of appearance) we have Christmas (multiple gifts), New Years (dinner, drinks and dancing), anniversary (again dinner and drinks as well as a gift), wife's birthday (darn well better be a "good" gift) and last but not least Valentines day (a card, chocolates and flowers). So total financial ruin for 52 days straight.
My mom and dad was married on my mom birthday!
gee, do you even like your wife?
@@susan3037 Of course I do or else we wouldn't have been married for 37 years. She passed away on our anniversary 2 years ago and I still miss her daily.
@@lennyo5165 my sincere apologies for my inappropriate comment. My condolences on your wife’s passing.
I’m American. I don’t know if they do this in Great Britain, but lots of grade schools in the US make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. The kids decorate shoe boxes as “mail boxes” and then all kids bring in little cards/treats for all the other kids. Then kids put them in the mailboxes. Sometimes there’s a party with prizes for the best mailbox. I did this as a kid 50 years ago and my kids did it as well. High schools and middle schools will sometimes have candy grams that parents and kids can send. Happy Anniversary!
Definitely not a thing in UK.. Lovers only .. and much more sexual than romantic
I remember. Yet another reason why I'm a cynic.
I remember doing this in elementary school and I was curious if those "cards" were counted in the 190 million. IMO it was much better when I was a child than now because we had the cutest little cards that came with envelopes and seals, but now you just fold them.
I was wondering about this too. Canada does the USA's Valentines-in-school thing. If you factor a pack of mini valentines for into American Valentines spending, it helps make a bit of since of things. The packs for kids aren't wildly expensive and are usually big, but young kids try to have one card per classmate. Older kids might get a candy gram for all their major in-school friends, just to give them a boost in their classes. Adults, meanwhile, do what one might expect for their partners, if their hitched. Meanwhile, since it's the only major occasion in February, I can't be the only one adamant that un-partnered adults, or those not romancing partners should be treating themselves to the chocolate and fancy things together in friendly single solidarity. It's a hard holliday to get hyped about, but what to do for a break in an often snowy February? Even those who hate it probably band together in irreverent anti-Valentines fun.
My grandson in first grade took his dragon "mail box" to school yesterday!! So much fun! My mom taught second grade and my dad built her a "post office" to put in her classroom. Her students would decorate the lower half of a 1/2 gallon of milk which was stapled to the wall inside the post office. Great memories!
American here- we do not dine out for Valentine's Day. Our tradition is that my husband cooks for me that day. He cooks on other occasions also, but he makes the Valentine's Day meal extra special with candles and flowers. We've been married for 38 years, and I still feel like it's a sweet gesture.
I think the fact that kids often give Valentine's cards to everyone in their classroom contributes to the high number of cards given every year in the US. Imagine 32 kids each giving out 33 cards (don't forget the teacher!) That's 1056 cards per class! (I think)
Idk if they're counting those cards though. I think they mean proper greeting cards not the boxed assorted cards for kids. If they counted those it'd surely be much higher considering each class of 30 gives 30 cards per student and some also give one to the teacher, that's nearly a thousand cards per class.
Yes, this definitely contributes a lot! When I was growing up, we'd always have an unspoken competition to see who stuffed the cards with the best candy, too.
32 kids giving out card would still be 32 cards including the teacher's card. You don't give a card to yourself.
@@nicekitty6988 Oops, you're right! But it's still 1000 cards per class.
No one can beat my husband for being unromantic. He bought me flowers the day we got married and I cried. Crying upsets him because he believes all tears are sorrowful. He has not brought me anything since. Strangely enough, we've been together for fifty-five years knowing we are not obligated to buy each other anything because custom demands it. Rules can be broken.
Your husband is very clever.
Rules can be broken or amended to suit your circumstances. My partner and I are fortunate to be able to purchase what we need pretty much when we need it, so conforming to traditional celebration days is unnecessary and we don't buy in to the consumerism.
The department bought our secretary flowers for secretary’s day. She cried and had to take the rest of the day off. Found out later that she spent the evening yelling at her husband who had never bought her flowers. So, was it a good thing to have done?
@@iallso1 Oddly enough there is so much less stress in our lives pondering over what gift would be most suitable. Its far easier to self-gift. You know your colors, size and taste and there is no "re-gifting" to get rid of the white elephant.
@@pscheidt never heard of secretary's day, which country is that celebrated in?
My husband always bought me candy and flowers and instead of going out I always made a special dinner with a heart shaped cake. We have two girls and he got them the same even when we were in England in February. He did this because he knew it made me happy!
My husband of 25 years doesn't bring me flower bouquets because he hates that the flowers were "murdered" in the making of the bouquets. So he buys me living flowering plants that I enjoy for much longer! 😁 Plus, he knows I love to garden and watch plants grow, so it makes me happy! Also, a box of candy always "mysteriously appears" on the counter, and "no one knows" how it got there!
Living plants are great especially for those of us who like gardening. A gift that keeps on giving. You get so much more for your money than cut flowers that will wither away in a few days. 😊
In Michigan February 14th is property tax day. Kinda kills the romance. Also, most Valentine Cards are exchanged in schools. That tradition goes back more than 100 years.
Which doofus put property tax day on Feb 14th?
That does suck. Ya think they could have chosen another day for that. 😡
My dad wrote my mom a short poem to my mom on every Valentine's day. Being the only daugther, He would get us each a Shinny Red heart shaped box of chocolates . You know the fancy kind the one with the red Cellophane . ♥️ We did share the candy with him.
That is so sweet.
Dad of the century ❤❤❤❤
American here. Our first date was Feb. 15th (30 years ago) because a first date on Valentine's Day would've been weird, so my husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day at all. We do eat out on or shortly after the 15th.
I'm 49. When I was in elementary school (starting in 1978) there was a strict policy that if you brought valentines on the 14th, you had to bring one for every kid in class and a class list was sent home the week before to make sure you didn't miss anyone. There was always a Valentine's Day party for the last half hour of the school day where we exchanged valentines and ate treats: cookies, candies, and cupcakes.
I retired last May from 25 consecutive years of homeschooling my 3 kids K-12. I hosted the Valentine's Day Tea Party at my house for homeschooled kids and their moms. The dress code was, "It's impossible to overdress for this event; flower girl dresses, princess dresses, Christmas dresses, tiaras, feather boas, long gloves, hats, suits, ties, or anything else you want to wear is perfectly appropriate." We got a batman one year. That was just fine with us. We had fancy desserts, peppermint tea, small candy canes to stir peppermint tea, cream, sugar cubes and such. They all exchanged Valentines then went home and fell into sugar comas. Good times.
That sounds like you made it just as fun as what you remembered! I'm about 10 years older than you, and was wondering when we shifted from giving Valentines to everyone, as we did when I was younger, two kids being left out. Obviously, it was somewhere in between my years and your years
I gave a 👍 just for the idea of a grade school Batman drinking herbal tea and overdosing on sugar. You can’t write comedy like this 😂
I love that dress code! “It’s impossible to over dress for this event.”
I love the tea party idea! Such fun to dress up (of course here in Louisiana is Mardi Gras, so dress up is required and parties are all the time).
@@LindaC616 I'm in my late 30's, and when I we in elementary school we were expected to bring Valentines for all of our classmates. It might just vary by school or region, rather than generation.
That said, I was homeschooled 3rd-9th grades, and the tea party sounds fantastic!
I think the whole candy, card, flowers and dinner thing was more important when we were younger. We've been married 50 years (WOW! When did that happen?) and he doesn't need to do all that but he usually gets me floweres (or a plant, flowers are crazy) and candy (which I don't need but its sweet. I keep telling him that he could get by cheap by going to Walmart, buying two $5 bouquets and a small box of candy and get by for under $20. Or by me some plants for my garden. He's a treasure.
My brother's wife was born on Valentine's Day, and he being very practical had the thought that he would never get in trouble if he got married that day, too. But you have to give really nice presents if you are doubling up wedding and holiday and birthday.
Re: Dining out on Valentine's Day, you make a good point about the weather. Besides that, what I find most off-putting is that many dining establishments have special menus on Valentine's Day and the prices are significantly higher. I've also felt cramped in restaurants that squeezed in several extra tables to accommodate more diners. All in all it feels like a big ripoff. The best V-day dinner I've had is the one I made for a long-ago boyfriend; at a co-worker's suggestion, I cooked filet mignon topped with crabmeat in a Bernaise sauce. Yum!
See, I think that's another thing that isn't being factored in - that many couples have a tradition have a special dinner at home that night.
Like Laurence my anniversary is also that day (what can I say, they were waiving license fees, super romantic). We never ever go out to eat for Valentine's Day. It's always a horrible experience! Same for Mothers Day.
I'm American, retired. I also had grade school valentine exchanges. My experience is that was the major purpose for candy hearts. Grown-ups usually prefer chocolate. Every adult female I've ever known, if they received anything on this holiday, always received flowers and maybe chocolates. Many also receive jewelry or expensive perfume. The husband usually would get candy and possibly some sort of gift. My own experience was always flowers, then a large box of quality chocolates. We never dined out because of the crowds. I'm widowed now and miss the intimate niceties of having someone special.
I should have specified that the chocolates were for my husband. We also exchanged cards.
I just posted the same thing. More tables added, prix fixe menus that cost more, and untrained servers or overwhelmed servers. No thanks.
Lawrence, I am American and don't eat out on Valentines. I love chocolate, and only eat a couple of the sweethearts. My mother in law sends heart shaped sugar cookies frosted and decorated with a jelly heart (cinnamon or cherry flavor) to us. We used to live in the same town, but now live 600 miles away. Her cookies are a tradition! They are delicious! She packs them in popcorn sprinkled with more jelly hearts and sweetheart candies, sometimes redhots and chocolates. This is looked forward to by us every year, kids and parents alike. (She also sends a Halloween themed box in October). That is my favorite tradition for Valentines and Halloween!
I like to make fun treats for my kids. Lava cakes are on the list this year. I already gave them chocolate covered strawberries! (Thanks to my friend who made them for our church group activity yesterday and had a ton left over!) Happy Anniversary and Valentines! And a very Happy Birthday to your beautiful wife!!
Hahahaha, years ago, I worked as a cashier in the busiest Walmart in the U. S. No lie... It was just up the street from the second largest university in America. The day before Valentine's was busier than Christmas Eve, I swear! These college boys would line up with what I called, the seduction kit! Chocolates, flowers, card, teddy bears (no jewelry ever!) & buried in the pile would be...condoms! 😁 That must be the allure to Valentines Day.
Hilarious. Yeah, I don't understand the stuffed bear. College age women aren't children. Jewelry, or just flowers, are always much better.
I'm so glad I go to a religious university. But on the other hand, I'm in an apartment building chock-full of newlyweds...
at least they had enough sense to include the condoms
I believe it. The college kids were all at home during Christmas break--no wonder Valentine's Day was busier.
Do college kids date/do valentines day?
I'm American, 48 yrs old and I have never been given anything for Valentine's Day other than Valentine's Day cards that were exchanged in school. Beyond that, I've never been gifted anything on this day. Ironic thing is that I've bought valentine's candies and have given them to my children and mad made them heart shaped cookies that we've decorated for fun.
☹️
I'm sorry 😥 my father passed in 2018 & my parents were married 40 years. Since he's been gone, I buy my mom flowers & candy every valentine's day & sweetest day...
@Anita Dunn. This made me think of UK TV sketches from childhood, with the husband being too afraid of the wife armed with a rolling pin to dare to forget Valentine's Day card and treat (I am not promoting this).
Happy Valentine's Day from UK, though my girlfriend, of similar age to you, will be the one I am shopping for (now where did I hide that rolling pin?).
I'm with ya there! I'm 38 and a woman, and no one ever gave me anything either. I don't have any kids or even a boyfriend, so I'm even worse off than you :B
My parents always bought me and my sister valentines gifts when we were children. Box of candy (sometimes 2) and a card. Sometimes we would get pjs, or socks or some unique trinket. I have done the same for my boys. Usually a box or two if candy, card and something like a video game card or a stuffed animal for each boy. My husband will get me flowers or go and buy a steak and grill it depending on what’s going on at the time.
I work in an adult store, and I work as a server in Rhode Island, USA, so Valentine's Day is like a mothers Day for me!
(US) Valentine's Day was fun as a kid in school. We decorated boxes, had a party with treats, watched the Charlie Brown Valentine Special.
This was also back in the day when you gave Valentine's to whom you wanted to, there was no list of the entire class sent home and with requirement to include everyone. The boys in the class mostly didn't care wether they got them or not anyway, you'd see their whole box discarded in the trash on the way out the door at the end of the day.
American dining out for v-day. We actually booked it shortly after new year’s. Our favorite speakeasy bar puts this special on every year, and we didn’t want to miss out.
I love Valentine's Day and I always have. It is a pretty, sweet celebration in what is generally a cold and slushy part of winter. My father always gave each of us kids a tiny present (Mom got a much grander one). I give my husband, kids, single friends and widowed relatives cards/gifts/treats to let them know they are loved. None of these gifts cost much and are often homemade. ❤️
How sweet of you to remember the singletons, and with a nice sentiment!
I'm American/English and my husband is Indian. We don't go big on Valentine's day, just candy and takeout. I hate big crowds so going out isn't much fun on holidays like this. This is our first Valentine's day since we were married though so we are planning to do a little weekend trip to the mountains next month, but honestly we'd probably do that either way lol
I agree. I have a dread of Mothers Day due to the ridiculous crowds. Give me a really good pizza and Yeungling at home, and I’m a happy Mama!
The White Castle Valentine’s Day Dinner special was a treat to see when driving through a random small town in Indiana a few few years back - I don’t think it was a company wide thing but something the store owner threw as a gag and made signs for - but they gave you a little vase with a fake rose and you had a /reserved/ table, food was the regular fair. Quite fun for only having maybe 5 places to eat in a rural area - not everyone wants to splurge an go to the KFC Buffett or Pizza Hut.
White Castle Valentine's Day, no gag, yes it's a company thing. Ohio, Indiana, etc.
@@scheralgreider5406 good to know! I haven’t seen it much in my part of Kentucky but that’s fantastic it’s a larger scale thing.
It’s back this year after 2 years of Covid cancellations
I wonder if the American card count is so high because children have Valentine parties at school and kids give a small card to each kid in the class. At least in elementary school.
I'm American and never cared for Valentines Day since I'm a happy singleton. However, the day after is always great to get overstocked chocolates on sale.
By the way Laurence, now that it's February, it's also Girl Scout Cookie season here in the US. Luckily a parent of a troop came into my job and I already ordered mine through their troop's website, but I know the actual sales outside of grocery stores start soon (17th or later). It would be interesting to get your take on that and how it compares to Girl Guides in the UK.
😁Keep up the great content.
And whether or not Asda or Lidl in the UK sell knock-offs like Aldi does here 😋
There are no Girl Guides biscuits 😭 but now that I have a kid in scouts I'm a little happy about that if I'm honest.
Lidl did have some knockoffs last year though.
@katyweaver7689 that's interesting! I'd love to ask my friends in other countries if they have them, but one friend that I have had three boys, one did scouting. I'll have to ask if her boy sold expensive microwave popcorn! 😄
@katyweaver7689 my great-niece was a daisy(which is a precursor to a brownie, which is a precursor to a girl guide). It didn't exist when I was young. Anyway, my niece was "cookie mom" for the year or two that she sold them. Cookie mom is the mother who takes delivery of the hundreds or thousands of boxes of cookies that were ordered by her troop and make certain that each member of the troop gets the ones that they ordered. Cookie mom is also responsible for holding on to any extra boxes and making sure that they are sold. She was really happy when her daughter decided not to continue with the organization. She is of the mind that they are using the children for slave labor. But it's been going on for so long that it's part of American culture to expect them at this time of year. I would be interested in knowing whether or not the availability of knockoffs at Aldi or Lidl has had any effect on their sales
@@LindaC616 yeah I was a scout in the states as a kid, sold cookies, felt it was uncomfortable even then. It's really weird it's pushed really hard as teaching girls entrepreneurship, except it's really more like MLM (multi level marketing)
In Elementary School (USA) we were required to give all our classmates Valentine's cards and would decorate a brown paper lunch sack to tape to the edge of the desk for them to be deposited in.
My late husband and I got married on the fourth of July, because, 1: we wouldn't forget our anniversary, and 2: there would always be fireworks on that day. Though this was sweet and romantic, Bob had an ulterior motive: he was obsessed with fireworks, as were his friends, one of whom was able to put on huge private fireworks shows each July.
I've never been a fan of Valentines Day, because after the stress of the long Christmas season, it just seems like too much! 💖💖💖
Agree....never been a fan and as the years go by I become less of a fan of Valentines Day.
My parents got married on 7/11 and my dad said he could remember that because that's where he bought his cigarettes
4th of July is a holiday that feels a bit romantic historically to me. It is the day that 3 of our presidents died and John Adams was a romantic and on the movie about his life on the DVD of the HBO, is a documentary about David McCullough who also had a sweet romantic story. John Adams predicted the 4th of July celebrations before we had a country."It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Though he thought those fireworks would happen July 2nd which was when the separation from England happened. 4th of July was when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The fact that Adams and Jefferson both died on the same 4th of July and so did James Monroe, it feels like such a special day.
My grandparents got married on the fifth of July. Grandma wanted to get married on the Fourth, but grandpa had just come back from WWI and told her “Lucy, I haven’t seen a baseball game in over 3 years, let’s go to the ball game and get married tomorrow “. So they did. But then, they just went down to the courthouse to get married, I doubt there wouldn’t have been any judges around to marry them.
Wait, where are you that has fireworks on Valentine's day?? I've lived in three different states in the US and never seen that.
Happy Anniversary in advance!!
I call "Sweethearts" Conversation Hearts so that I don't confuse them with "Sweetarts".
I refer to Valentine's Day as Single Awareness Day.
Cake here to say this! I've always thought they were called conversation hearts and Sweethearts was a brand name. But I could absolutely be wrong, I haven't seen these things since I was in highschool in the 2000s lol
@@lavenderoh they are still around just have to look for them with all the othe Valentine's Day candy.
As got some as an answer to a dance in High School, still have the container he put them in.
Or worse the sweettart sweethearts
Amazon has the conversation hearts.
@cjhansen6618 Brach's still makes them. I just bought 10 small boxes and included them with a package for my niece. Her husband doesn't like chocolate or drink caffeine, but he loves those darned things. I thought she could slip them into his lunch box next week and take credit for it. When he was in the Corps, he had to maintain weight specs for the ejection seat, and his height included a half inch that the military wouldn't give him credit for. So he would buy some of those, give them to her, and say "don't let me have any unless I've been really good"
My late husband and I married on February 15th, based solely on expediency and coincidence but called our anniversary the 17th as that was just "our day" (we married five months after seeing each other again for the first time in 18 years). We never did "valentines," but sometimes exchanged silly cards we thought the other would laugh at. Next week would have been our 18th anniversary, so I do feel a bit low when I see all the holiday-related goods at the market.
Sorry for your loss!
My heart goes out to you as someone who lost her dad not long before Father's Day and found herself with the irrational urge to punch the signs at store entrances. 🫂
Not that I did it of course.
No one can say they ever saw me doing it.
@@tejaswoman Just lost my dad in November. I know that his birthday in April and then Father's Day in June are gonna be rough this year. My mom died 29 years ago, and every year I see cards in the stores that she would have loved on Mother's day, and it is still hard dealing with that.
@@tejaswoman hahaha! I hear you. I've been known to mutter something that sounds like "snuck off" when I pass the greeting card displays. I'm sorry for the loss of your father. My dad killed himself the week after fathers day in 1987. The anguish and rage ebb and flow, so sometimes I can just ignore the card-holidays, but I always feel glad for those who celebrate them. I know everyone has a story. : )
🫂💕
In elementary school, teachers set up cubbyholes or manila envelopes we decorated to give one another Valentine's Day cards and candies. In 3rd grade, I ended up badly sick just before Valentine's Day and wasn't back until well after St. Patrick's Day, which also involved clover-shaped construction paper cards we wrote and decorated to give to one another. So I arrived back, feeling weak from a month bedridden and still fairly dazed after weeks with a fever, and discovered that, due to my illness, every single kid plus pretty much all the teachers all gave me heart and clover shaped cards, with literally almost a hundred boxes of Sweetheart candies or random chocolate mini bars, a WHOLE GROCERY BAG full of them. It was a pretty nice "welcome back," and I'm sure I put on all the weight I may have lost from being sick.
My husband and I never did cards, but he did used to buy me roses and I bought him chocolates. Then we realized, I'm not a fan of cut flowers and he needed to cut down on all the sweets. However, because of the crowds, we absolutely avoid going out to eat on that day. I think maybe we did once to twice near the beginning of our relationship, but it's just not ROMANTIC to be in an overcrowded restaurant. I think Americans find it more romantic to make one's favorite meal and set the table with candles... plus quick escape to the bedroom should things take a more sensual turn!
I grew up with the wife creating a special meal that is sure to deliver romantic inclinations, possibly with special provocative dress. The husband brings home chocolates, flowers and a card, to show his appreciation for all the special attention. In my experience that lasts about 5 years, then it is exchanging cards, pizza and a cuddle with a movie.
I think that as long as both people are happy with the end result, it can be whatever we want it to be
Since you brought up chocolate, I highly recommend checking out See's Candy. Their stores are primarily in California, but it is also sold in many airports. You can also get it online. It's like an American Godiva. I wager you will find it better than British Cadbury. Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Anniversary, and Happy Birthday to Tarah!
My grandma used to get a box of that every year on Christmas. Never turn down See's.
Loved Sees when I lived in California
See's has over 200 shops across America. I always thought it was a local Washington brand growing up.
Snooks Candy in Old Folsom CA (family owned) is fabulous too.
See's is also in Arizona. However, I grew up with Fannie May in Illinois.
First, happy birthday to Tara! 🥳 And happy anniversary to both of you. 💗 My ex-husband and I were married on Valentines Day because I'm a romantic at heart. He was not. *sigh*
Regarding the stats on folks eating out, I really think America's are low. But we tend to eat out within 3 days either side of the actual date, I think, to avoid the crowds. This year, since it falls on a Tuesday, a lot will be eating out tonight, a Saturday, or tomorrow.
And that's why he's your ex! 😉 (same, and same)
Here's to being content! 🍷
My birthday is also February 12th. So Happy Birthday Tara!!
Son: Dad, mom was complaining that you never buy her flowers.
Dad: In my defense, I didn't even know your mom sold flowers.
Once my father decided to do something different and take my mother out for their anniversary. That year it fell on a Sunday when nice restaurants were usually closed so they went out the night before. Everyplace had a long wait, even for a Saturday night. They ended up at the only restaurant that wasn't busy: Pizza Hut. Why was the night before so busy? Because their anniversary was on February 15.
Oh, that's MORE precious, that you got married when you did without even noticing a calendar. We, too, got married the date that we did simply because we'd already gotten a license and that day, the lawyer we were consulting said we'd cleared all the different things that were holding us up in doing the civil ceremony that we needed to get on with our immigration paperwork. (May you be far more successful than we were in the long run.)
Happy Anniversary/Valentine's/Birth Day to both of you! 💞
American here. My husband and I don't do much more for Valentine's Day than get carry out. If that. Happy (upcoming) Anniversary to you.
Speaking for myself, I always cook a special meal for my wife on Valentine's Day. It's the anniversary of our first date.
My mom's birthday is Valentine's Day so it never felt like a romantic holiday to me but more about how much I love her. Then I became an elementary teacher so it was also about school parties and kids giving out cards. I always tell my husband that I don't need anything for the holiday. I already know that he loves me.
Hahaha. My husband still kicks himself for not waiting six months to marry me on Valentine's day. He says he would've been able to roll my birthday, Valentine's, and our anniversary into one day. 😂
Happy almost Birthday to your lovely wife and fellow Aquarian.
Happy birthday
Wow, what a coincidence! Our wedding Anniversary is Feb 12th. We didn't want to get married on Valentines Day either. We do not go out on that day, it's too busy. My husband is like you, he doesn't like the day, but we go out on our Anniversary. This year the Super Bowl just happens to be on that day, so double the busyness in the restaurants, shops, etc. Happy Birthday to your wife!
Good planning, L !
You saved yourself the risk of forgetting your anniversary, and having to buy separate gifts on two separate days !
My grandparents got married on Valentine's Day so that my grandfather would never forget their anniversary. It worked. Also, something to note as far as card and candy consumption: in the US it's not uncommon for children in grades K-12 to buy cards and candy for their entire class. These are normally bought in bulk, sometimes combined, and often themed around today's Pop Culture, such as Spider Man or My Little Pony. I don't know if you have that in the UK, but it might explain a bit of the difference. My personal views on Valentine's day are complicated. The short version is that, as someone who's been single all but one year of my life, but who has only had the right to get married since 2015, I am in favor of a day to celebrate the fact that there are healthy, loving relationships in the world. Most of my friends, however, no longer get a celebratory text on that day, because even if I say 'Happy Discount Chocolate Eve', they reply with 'Happy Singles Awareness Day', because not everything's about me.......unless someone else decides it is.
I would be curious how many people don’t eat out on Valentine’s Day, but instead on a day close to it. Similar to you and your wife’s birthday, my parents anniversary is the 15th and so they always go out to eat on their anniversary when it’s less busy. Or at least used to be. In recent (pre pandemic) years they discovered that the 15th was also becoming quite a busy night out as everyone avoided packed dining establishments on the 14th.
My dad would Send Valentine cards to everyone in the family. Two. One was a sincere expression of his love and the other was always funny or satirical. If anyone follows his way that's a lot of Valentines by one person.
My wife's birthday is on the day AFTER Valentine's day, which makes the flowers 50% cheaper! 🤣🤣
Our family stopped celebrating Valentines Day a number of years ago. I think it's been around 1998 when we stopped celebrating Valentines Day. We stopped because our youngest daughter Rebecca wasn't as popular as our oldest daughter Jessica. She came home from school on Valentines Day. They were in 10th and 11th grade at the time. Rebecca came home from school crying and really upset. Our oldest daughter came home very happy and she had flowers and heart shaped chocolates. She was going to go out to dinner with her boyfriend. I was confused and I could tell that she was very hurt. That's when I noticed that Becca didn't come home with flowers, chocolates and she didn't have a boyfriend. The high school they went to also did flower grams. It was where other students and others could buy carnations with a Valentines Card. Rebecca didn't have anyone send her a flower gram. Not even from friends. Jessica not only had a bouquet of flowers that came from her boyfriend, she had over 20 flower grams from friends and a number of boys that was hoping she would break up with her boyfriend. My husband and I felt horrible for Rebecca. My husbands a truck driver, so he wasn't home when all of this was going on. She was telling me that she felt that nobody loved her and that she was ugly. She was in tears when she was telling me this. Jessica was in her room and was listening to what was going on. Jessica felt so bad for her. I was driving Jessica and her boyfriends to dinner. Becca and I was planning on sitting at a separate table since Jessica and her boyfriend was on a date. Becca didn't want to go with us to dinner. I ended up just dropping Jessica and her boyfriend off at the restaurant and I went home to pick up Becca and we went to eat at a restaurant that was close to the restaurant. After I dropped off Jessica's boyfriend we went home and we talked about everything that happened that day.
That was the last time we celebrated Valentines. I told both of our daughters that one day a year that people feel like they need to have someone to love them. I worked at a grocery store and on Valentines I can't count how many times men and boys or significant others have asked for ideas on what they could get for their wives, girlfriends and so on because they felt obligated to bring them home some flowers, chocolates, balloons, heart shaped candy, treats and so on that they would get in trouble if they didn't show the other person that they loved them. I told both of my daughters that they don't need someone to give them gifts to show that they are loved. I had countless men who was stressed out because they needed to get someone something of they would be in trouble. If someone feels that way, it's not a gift because they love the person. It's like they felt obligated to spend double or triple the price on roses and gifts. If they didn't they wouldn't live it down. I let them know that they are very much loved and they don't need flowers or a date to show that they are loved or worth being loved.
So you took something away from one child. that clearly made them very happy. Because your other child has mental health issues. Probably, in turn, causing your healthy child undue stress and anxiety. Afraid to be loved and admired publicly. Not only will my sister fall apart if someone cares for me. But my parents will punish me and take away my joy. Rewarding jealousy. This is what's wrong with America. People go through ups and downs. It builds character. You can't protect one and not the other. She needed guidance. Not to be shielded. Now she's gonna expect the world to do the same, and it won't. They don't need bubble wrap. They need armor.
@@crisbeginn713 they are perfectly healthy and my daughters got married and have kids that they make sure they tell that they don't need flowers and chocolates to prove that they are loved. Jessica has 2 children and Becca has 5. Si, they are fine and they
no issues,.
I still think it was a very lesson to put each other first and prepare for the day one year when Jessica gets nothing and wonders about her worth post highschooll
@@63angel everybody has some issues!
Happy Anniversary to you all❤ and Happy Birthday to Tarah. I save money I don't have a Valentine 😂 I despise those sweetheart candies 🤢
We send kids and grandkids cards and stuff on Valentines Day. Which may help account for the number of cards sold in America.
In elementary school we had to make construction paper boxes/envelopes and tape them to the fronts of our desks. Classmates would put Valentine cards in them. Usually one kid would be tagged as the postman and deliver them. What fun...
We haven't celebrated valentine's day in many years. We do a combination thing because my birthday was yesterday, his is the 15th and our anniversary is in a few weeks. After having kids, it just got to be too much to do separately. Ironically, we have never gone out to eat for valentine's. I don't know if we tend to make a special meal (🤣 omg the first time I tried making steak) here or why. In my mind it might be because we can go to a restaurant anytime but a very special (expensive ingredients, time consuming etc) meal at home is so different from the hurry home and try to get a meal on the table pretty quickly usual meals. It got harder to do 3 special meals in a week with kids. Even after they grew up, we never went back.
Happy anniversary, you two, and happy birthday to Tara!
Even if that date was accidentally, it makes sense: easy to remember, and you'll always be free to celebrate it because there won't be any conflicts with other social engagements. I won't be celebrating it, because I'd be that person without the rose on the table. Best to skip it
In defense of my fellow Americans, Valentine's Day is a day where children are often celebrated and gifted. Winters are long, and a stuffed animal and some candy can really bridge the gap btween Christmas and Easter. Pluis, if you are a cook or a baker, it's an excuse to be creative and make cute things. So, while I dislike the concept, I embrace the silly fun of it. Plus my Dad always sent me a Valentine. I miss it so much now that he's gone. Happy Valentine's Day Dad.
Yes, that's the fun of it! (Especially during those Midwestern winters)
My wife's birthday is Feb 25th, so that's the day we made the big date night. She has been disabled the last few years, but we still order a nice delivery dinner.
For me Valentine's Day (I used to call it "Valentime's Day," with an m, as a kid) will be just like any other day, except with hearts everywhere I suppose. I especially choose to not dine out somewhere, as that would wreck my diet. In fact, Tuesday is ab/core day so I'll be having protein up the wazoo at home after my workout for dinner 💪
Most of the kids in my elementary school called it Valentime's Day.
My birthday is February 12th as well! Wish your wife a happy early birthday for me.
My husband and I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, we think it’s a bit silly but also it’s overshadowed by my birthday. As it should be. 😌
i remember in primary school in the US everyone in your class exchanged Valentines cards.
Hi Lawrence, thanks for another great video! We will not be dining out. We are still social distancing. We've been married 41years. My husband loves to cook. Lucky me! Happy anniversary!!
That's so crazy that you accidentally got married on Valentine's Day!
Oooooooo Laurence! Lighten up! Valentine's Day is the day of love and the world needs all the love it can get right now. 💘💝
I lost my husband a couple years ago. His birthday was over a week ago and I still haven't gone to take him the usual flowers and balloon. I don't know why. I wish I could celebrate Valentine's Day with him.
I love your videos and watch them all the time. Valentine's Day isn't the day to be a grouch. You and your wife have been together a long time. You've had a lot of life together, traveling and moving to a new country, becoming a citizen, and buying your own home. I'd say life is good for you. I hope it is. And here so close to your wife's birthday! I'll spend Valentine's Day thinking of you and Tara having a nice, romantic, fun day. We only live once (they say...) so it's great to have a national holiday to celebrate thanksgiving for people we love. I'm so happy for both of you. 💘
Sorry for your loss
@@LindaC616 Thank you.
Same here. I lost my wife over ten years ago. No card. No flowers. No dinner out. What I wouldn't give to do something special like that for her again.
Happy Anniversary Lawrence and Tara!
I'm American and my husband and I went out to dinner last night for our Valentine's Day (a local church was hosting a kid event so we took our moment). I actually think our whole family may go out to eat on the 14th too. Denny's is doing free kid dinner that night and my preschooler will interpret it as a fancy restaurant for the holiday.
I'm curious though, does the UK do a lot of Valentine's Day parties for kids at school?
Sometimes ad placements are hilariously on point. Right after “Perhaps you opt instead for this”, it launched into a Hardee’s biscuit commercial. Interestingly enough, the local Hardee’s and Bojangles offer heart shaped biscuits on Valentine’s Day (this wasn’t the commercial and I’m watching this, for some reason, in August). I don’t know anyone that buys them specifically as Valentine’s Day gift per se but more as just a fun thing if you were already getting breakfast. Some offices grab some for the team. I’d say it probably does make people slightly more inclined to grab one that day.
I'm with you I don't need a day to tell me when to love my wife. Love your channel!
Valentines Day is a little pricey for me because I happen to love gourmet chocolate s from a UK store. 😁💖
We got married the weekend before Valentine’s, and our honeymoon was in London. For Valentine’s I reserved a spot at this local farm to table vegan place near the Barbican tube station, and we packed one nice outfit. The tube made us slightly late (evening rush on a Friday). It was delicious if a bit cramped and crowded (small dining room, fully booked.) The multi-course meal meant we left at a late hour and the neighborhood was deserted, foggy and kind of creepy. (Thankfully the tube was still running).
Just wanted to say “Happy Birthday “ to Tarah and “Happy Anniversary “ to both of you 😊
My ex and I did all that Valentines day stuff, and got divorced, my current partner and I never bother with it and 22 years on are still going strong, take from this what you want.
Funny story though my partner and I were the only two to turn up for class at night school on Valentines day and it was as a result that we knew each other were single, how romantic is that.
Aw!
That's adorable. My ex and I had a pact that anytime I ended up having to teach on our anniversary (we had two, about a month apart, due to having had a civil ceremony and a church ceremony), he would do me the kindness of giving me flowers I could have at work to make the most fuss out of it, LOL. Think maybe it has something to do with growing up with a birthday I never got to celebrate during the school year ...
I think a lot of Americans do their Valentines dinner before or after Valentines Day. It just takes going out on Valentines Day one time to realize how bad it is. Long wait times, rushed / bad service, crowded ambiance, etc. The numbers are probably harder to detect due to this. I'd wager if you expanded the date range to a week before and after Valentines Day you'd see a massive jump in the US.
One year I bought a box of sweethearts for my Mom & myself. Her hearts had the little sayings while mine were blank. LOL, what a message from the Universe.
American, northern suburb of Chicago, and we usually exchange some simple token on Valentines Day (candy); … AND, yes, my wife is taking me out to dinner for Valentines Day, but NOT on the 14th. We’re going out the day after (after all, the 14th is just a number on a day)
Good stuff, Lawrence 👍🏻
UK here (but with many US friends.) My observation is that in the US people buy candy/cards for people other than a sexual partner or potential sexual partner and include, friends, children etc, whereas in the UK its definitely more about "hooking up" with someone in a much less innocent, carefree way. In the UK if you get a card and you dont have a current relationship its a sure sign someone wants an f*** . Its not cute and innocent at all. Borderline stalker situation. US friends seem to buy candy'cards for everyone. even neigbours and friends from school .. I dunno if my US friends are typical but it definitely seems more general and asexual over there. I never gave out a card to anyone except one serious boyfriend, and later, my husband.. so thats probably no more than 10 cards in my whole life.. and men being what they are I have only received 3
American here, and that’s really interesting to me. Red roses seem to have the connotation for us that candy and cards do for you; if someone besides your romantic partner gets you red roses, it’s creepy or an overture, but pink roses or carnations are cute and appropriate for family or very close friends.
My dad used to get his wife a bouquet of red roses and me a little bouquet of light pink roses when I was a young kid. It was very sweet. My fiancé just gets me sushi from our favorite takeout place, which is exactly what I want.
@@Axqu7227 We generally dont give anything to family or close friends on Valentines. at all.. Maybe mother or grandmother.. but we have Mothers day too and its earlier in the year than US Mothers day ( tagged somehow to the date of Easter) so that would be unusual
I'm Catholic, so that sometimes affects my St. Valentine's Day dinner plans. The year it fell on Ash Wednesday was memorable. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat. Catholic fasting got sissified in the 1960s, so it means having 2 small meals that together are equal or less in size than the main meal. So we could go out to eat, as long as it was vegetarian or fish. Chocolate sales were probably down that year, too. I don't know why that's the only St. Valentine's Day dinner I recall, even though I rarely go out that night, because of bitter cold and snow. As a young woman, I did doll up to go out in my cute granny boots and mini skirt, but it was a chore.
I used to belong to a church that had what they called a "Sweethearts dinner" every Valentine's Day. They made a big point to let everybody know they were welcome to come, whether they had a significant other or not. That was nice enough of them--but I didn't want to go. I'd rather be at home alone because I'd probably forget that it was Valentine's Day. If I went to the dinner, I'd be constantly reminded that I was alone. Ironically, after being a member of that church for a couple years, I started getting unfriendly treatment for not going to the Sweethearts dinner. Yeah, I don't belong to that church any more.
American here: this may the first year we're eating out for Valentine's. Usually we save that for birthdays and anniversary. Neither of us like crowds and sometimes the weather in Central Ohio is sketchy in mid- February. Getting a babysitter on a weeknight isn't always easy either. Instead we usually would make heart shaped pancakes and/or cookies and maybe a fancier at- home dinner.
The kids in elementary school always have a Friendship party with cards for everyone (sometimes homemade), crafts, and treats provided by parents. My high schooler helped sell candy grams at his school last week.
In the US most school kids bring cards for everyone in their class on Valentines Day. Sometimes the moms also make cupcakes or cookies for the kids to share, or the kids give out candy to each other.
My wife and were shopping at the grocery store and we went by the valentine cards and we picked the one we wanted to give the other handed it to them . After they read it they put it back and we continued our shopping. It's the little things that you can do for free that count.
My husband and I have done that, too! 😂 We just kept picking out cards that we liked and handing them over. Funny ones, romantic ones, etc. It was really fun actually!
I've NEVER given flowers or anything to my wife on Valentines Day. But I give her flowers and other gifts throughout the year...randomly. And I show her I love her in other ways. We've been together over 40 years, so I must be doing something right.
Everything right! 🙂
LyleFrancisDelp, she may appreciate your random flowers amd gifts even more because they were motivated by your inner feeling, rather than an obligatory Hallmark holiday! Definitely doing something right!
@@grovermartin6874 Let me tell you....she DEFINITELY appreciates it.
Walmart had at least 2or 3 aisles dedicated to all things Valentines related aside from the card aisles, of course. Therein was the candy, door hangers, kitchen towels, stuffed teddy bears, cups with candies, wind up toys, beads, I guess you have the idea now.
Some go out to dinner and others prepare theirs at home. A lot depends on 1st years versus 20 years, unless it is other celebrations involved as Laurence mentioned, anniversaries and birthdays.
One can still go out to dinner and celebrate on low key vice really fancy.
My cousins celebrate Feb 14th and their summer wedding anniversary each year because their first date was on Valentine's Day. My girl cousin's now-hubby really wanted to take my cousin out back then but he was flat broke. He was also a talented artist. So he forged tickets to a Valentines' Day dance and took her on a date. They were inseparable ever after. He announces their anniversary on Facebook every Valentine's Day and declares how much he loves her...27 years and counting. He does the same on their wedding anniversary.
The most romantic thing that can be done for me is buying or cooking a meal I didn’t have to cook and clean up! My husband learned early on not to waste money on candy and flowers!
To me, a native American (i.e., born and living here), Valentine’s Day is a nice idea that can especially appeal to kids. I remember how it was fun to buy a bag of inexpensive “Valentine’s” cards and address them to the other kids in your school class. However, now, as an adult (and senior citizen as well), it is to me just another commercial gimmick to get me to spend money out of fear that I don’t want to offend someone I care about. It’s always nice to offer tokens of affection to a loved one. Just don’t make it mandatory because of a date on the calendar.
The Valentines Day for Kids thing is not a thing in the UK. Most of the cards on sale are pretty much unsuitable for kids.. Its much more a heavy hook up thing in UK. fluffy handcuffs and all that sort of thing
I have to say Valentines Day seemed like a bigger deal when I was in grade school because of the card sharing. Picking out your cards, who gets which card, who gave you what cards in your class, and then all the sweet heart shaped candy. The Valentine shaped box of chocolates seemed so fancy to me as a kid.
@@nancyneyedly4587 yes! I loved it as a child and now it's just another day. It was so exciting
@nancyneyedly4587 I was just reminiscing about that with my trainer the other day. Do you remember how fun it was to buy an assorted box of Valentines? And to think about which ones you were going to give to which schoolmates and friends? And then they always had some project at school where you took strips of construction paper and wove them together to make a little Heart-Shaped Box that you would pin on your locker or your desk so people could slip them in unnoticed? At some point, we became a mean society, where everyone would avoid giving a valentine to that one kid. And it became about excluding people instead of including people. So for that reason, if they don't celebrate it at school anymore, I understand. But I do remember that it was fun and a day that was out of the ordinary in the middle of the cold Midwestern Winters. And yes, the truck looks looked fancy to me too. They probably still do
I do not understand why anyone would derive "mandatory" because of a date in the calendar INSTEAD of the simple fact of having a romantic partner. Which is why I do not understand how this day can appeal to kids and, most importantly, why is it celebrated PUBLICLY.
I live in Oregon February 14th is oregon's birthday. When I was a kid half the day was learning oregon's history. I also live near the oregon trail interpretive center so yes I know more about oregon history than I should.
My hubby never gives gifts on holidays except for the monumental anniversary dates because it is expected. He gives flowers and gifts on other days to make them more special. We've been married 41 years.
A great deal of the US market is for kids. In elementary schools you were expected to give each classmate a card and a treat. So for a class of 30 that’s almost 900 cards! I don’t know if the UK does that.
No.. we dont do that in UK.. at least not when I was at school. It would have been scandalous to send a card. I remember giving one from my friend to a boy she liked and it ended in tears and trauma for her.. He ripped it up and told me to F off and to tell her to F off as well
Early on in my 48 years of marriage I would get her the card and a typical heart box with chocolate candies/or the chocolate cherries box. She developed type 2 diabetes, so that was out. Flowers or perfume and a card ever since. But what we most like to do is go to a Walmart or similar store and watch the guys panic shopping on Feb 14th. It is hilarious. That vacant stare or deer in the headlight look. Even funnier when the store runs out of what they wanted to get. LOL
I’m right there with you. It’s hilarious watching those guys in the store looking so desperate on Valentines Day! 😂
I used to work in a grocery store. In the few days running up to Valentine's, it got weird. The floral department would blow up tons of balloons and just let them rest against the ceiling. This blocked the lighting, and one corner of the store got dark for several days because of it.
One girl who worked in the floral department had quite an attitude year round. She was constantly complaining about the guys coming in looking for advice about what kind of flowers to buy their girlfriends. They would say, "I messed up with my girlfriend. What do you suggest?" Her answer always was, "I suggest you don't mess up."
I'm an American. Last year for Valentine's Day my husband got me a set of bookends that are the iconic banana that Andy Warhol created for the Velvet Underground album cover in 1967. That may sound completely bizarre and like an epic fail on his Valentine's Day gift skills, I am a HUGE fan of pop art, and Andy Warhol is my all-time favorite artist. This was THE perfect gift for me! He knows me so well! So not every expression of Valentine's Day love has to be candy, cards, and flowers. This actually meant more to me than all of those combined. I have them on my office bookshelf where I can see them every day of the year and make me smile and remember the sweet surprise it was to me from my wonderful hubby!
Valentine's Day is the one day a year i go to a Fast Food restaurant because i know from previous fast food worker experience they are largely empty XD
Wait, no compost for the flower garden on this list? That's what I always loved getting. Flowers for months that way.
The only reason I "celebrate" Valentine's Day is for the seasonal release on certain candies. I buy myself a tub of Zachary's Cherry Jelly Hearts and a few bags of Hershey's Hearts (which are creamier and nicer tasting than regular Hershey's products) every year.
Yes, we eat out on Valentines and I receive flowers as well! My husband receives candy and a gift.
In America it starts in Kindergarten where we give all classmates a Valentine card and have a party!!
Our anniversary and my husband's birthday are both on... November 5th. Which is pretty easy to remember, remember...
My husband was calling for our reservations today. He was finding every place we wanted to go booked up already.3 days away.
My husband and I stopped going out on Valentines dinner on the 14th years ago. The last time we planned to we didn’t get reservations in time and wound up going out in the 15th. We had almost the whole restaurant to ourselves. We’ve been going out on the 15th for years now.
I'm spending this Valentine's Day, as I usually do every year, with the loves of my life. My cats. No added expenses, and LOTS of love given and returned.
Aaaaand . . . hubby gave me an entire bag of Conversation Hearts today!! He knows the way to MY heart!
Also, the Valentine items go up in the US the day after Christmas.
I am American and I do not eat out on valentines day. I have twice in my life. I prefer just getting flowers and gourmet chocolates with dinner at home.