How Valentine's Day is celebrated in Vietnam?
Valentine's Day! What does it mean to you? The name Valentine' comes from the Latin word valor', meaning worthy and first became associated with romance, and the giving of flowers and gifts, in the High Middle Ages, around the time when the tradition of courtly love flourished. Valentine's Day has many symbols, some dating back as long as Valentine's Day itself. In recent times however, the more obscure symbols have been replaced with those we all know today - such as cupid, hearts and roses, a written message of love on a piece of paper, Valentine Cards, flowers, candies, and love letters and more... Historically, February is a popular month for love-related festivals. Many ancient celebrations were no doubt inspired by the snowdrifts, inexplicable crankiness, and multiple layers of clothing that often stand between lovers in mid-winter. Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day - falling as ever on February 14 - is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other, often by sending cards, flowers and gifts. There was often a social gathering or a ball. This meaning is well expressed by a more commerce oriented way that Vietnam celebrates Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day, once a Western tradition only, now brings hope to both lovers and businesses in Vietnam. Recently, young Vietnamese are more passionate and likely to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th than any other love festivals, especially in big cities such as Saigon, Hanoi and others as well. Still, in some other cities and rural areas efforts are being made to bring back many of the traditional festivals - including Le Hoi Trao Duyen, (Exchange love Festival). For instance, in mountainous areas young girls and boys still sing and exchange folk love songs Hat Trao Duyen' when Spring Festivals come just after TET' the lunar New Year as celebrated in Vietnam; observed for three days after the first full moon after January 20th.
In Saigon, hundreds of city youth have been joining hands to create the longest-ever autograph book, City youth pen record-setting notebook of love', in Vietnam to mark Valentine's Day on February 14th. A crowd of city young people gathered at the Youth Cultural House Sunday to write Valentine's wishes to their sweethearts on a 100-meter-long paper book. Visitors can find in the record-setting book the innocent and lovely sentences, "My love, how timid you are! But I love you for that", or "I'm still looking for you. If you agree, please raise you hand".
Besides this big event, Valentine's Day is still celebrated in many different ways to attract young's and even married couples' attention. Shops are filled with chocolate, candles, cards, balloons, teddy bears and souvenirs that will satisfy the highest demands of customers on this most romantic day of the year. Perfumes and cosmetics by famous brands such as Clinique, Burberry, Givenchy and Shiseido, Debon and Vichy are also in great demand. Different kinds of jewellery like silver, gold, and precious gems are designed under a love' theme. All these items are engraved with letters, such as I Love You, You and Me, Love, and of course Love Forever.
Moreover, most importantly, in contrast to other conventional forms and symbols of Valentine's Day, in Vietnam Love Music market is being enormously created for Valentine's Day Season. For Vietnamese youth, one cannot love without a little music.
This love season, young couples will be treated to a feast of sight and sound when Vietnam Television (VTV) and sponsor Honda Vietnam organise a music night, titled Valentine Hong (Pink Valentine), at Giang Vo Exhibition and Trade Fair Centre in Hanoi. VTV3 channel will broadcast Pink Valentine live at 8pm on Saturday. HCM City Television also plans to show a live music programme - Hen Yeu 2006 (Promise to Love 2006) on HTV7 next Monday. There will be a slew of other live music shows like Giac Mo Tinh Yeu (Love Dream) at Lan Anh Club, and Dem Tinh Yeu (Love Night) at Trong Dong Stage to bring cheer and joy to young couples.
A whole bunch of romantic albums have hit the market ahead of Valentine's Day. Hai The Gioi (Two Worlds) by composer Tuong Van, Sao Tinh Yeu (Love Star) by pop star Ho Quynh Huong, Loi Nguyen Cau Tinh Yeu (Prayers for Love) by singer Dan Truong, and Da Khuc (Serenade) by another singer Doan Trang are all, as their names suggest, designed to create a romantic ambience. Hanoi diva My Linh has released the album De Tinh Yeu Hat (Let Love Sing) to celebrate Valentine's Day.
In a word, love depends on no material values alone as an unknown proverb says You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to realize your worth. This is also true for Valentine's Day. Just think about young lovers in countryside, who are poor but still happy to celebrate Valentine's Day with their own loves expressed through their smiles, gentle looks and gestures to their beloved ones.