STEVESTON KIDS®

Saturday 

FEBRUARY 14, 2009 

Watch for local Valentine's Day events in Steveston - they will be posted on the "Home" page.

Valentine's Day is shared by children and lovers a like. Classrooms across the nation will exchange small Valentines without any feelings of romantic love, but with an appetite for red heart lollipops, candied hearts and chocolates. Teachers are the number one cards reciever each Valentines Day. But for adult couples Valentine's Day is usually not satisfied by a card. It  is serious business with lasting romantic consequences. 40 million roses will be given on this holiday. 40 billion Valentines will be delivered. And hopefully after all this frivolity couples will be encourage to daily celebrate tender moments and lots of love.

EASY IDEAS TO MAKE VALENTINE'S FUN FOR YOUR KIDS

• Plan red clothes to wear on Valentine's Day
• Paint your daughter's nails red with hearts
• Leave a fun love note in the morning and in their lunch kit
• Shape breakfast pancakes or french toast with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.  Top with strawberries and whip cream.
• Shape lunch or dinner sandwiches, pizza or meatloaf with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
• Have a special heart-shaped dessert.  Decorate cookies or cupcakes.
• Cut red hearts out of construction paper and write love messages on them. Post them on the wall.
• Buy a few red balloons for a party atmosphere.

Make home-made valentine's cards for your kids' friends using photo creativity: 

• IDEA #1:  Have your kid draw a nice picture.  Use your camera and take a photo of the picture.  If you want, alter the color to make it psychedelic. Next print the picture photo on note cards and have your kid personally sign and write a note to each friend.
• IDEA #2:  Take a photo of your kid looking like cupid. Arrange your kid on a soft fuzzy white or red blanket holding a red heart shaped pillow (Ikea sells them for about $7).  Make cards out of the photo. Babies are the most fun in their diapers.  Just make sure the diaper doesn't show - drape a red velvet blanket over them.
• IDEA #3:  Take a photo of your kid while jumping in the air (a small trampoline is best).  If you can capture the arms in legs in a flying cupid position, you can then alter the photo to make your kid look like a flying cupid.

VALENTINE'S AROUND THE WORLD

Europe

Valentine's Day also has regional traditions in the UK. In Norfolk a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.

In Wales many people celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen's Day) on 25 January instead of or as well as St Valentine's Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.

In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "Saint Valentin", and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries.

In Denmark & Norway Valentine's Day (14 Feb) is known as Valentinsdag. It is not celebrated to a large extent, but some people take time to be romantic with their partner, or send a card to a secret love. In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag ("All Hearts' Day") and was launched in the 1960s by the flower industry's commercial interests, and due to influence of American culture. It is not an official holiday, but its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only bested by those for Mother's Day.

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name says, this day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day. Nevertheless, it has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. The day of love is traditionally 12 March, the Saint Gregory's day. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" ("Valentine — first saint of spring"), as in some places (especially White Carniola) Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

In Romania, the traditional holiday for lovers is Dragobete, which is celebrated on February 24. It is named after a character from Romanian folklore who was supposed to be the son of Baba Dochia. Part of his name is the word drag ("dear"), which can also be found in the word dragoste ("love"). In recent years, Romania has also started celebrating Valentine's Day, despite already having Dragobete as a traditional holiday. This has drawn backlash from many groups, reputable persons and institutions^[16] but also nationalist organizations like Noua Dreaptǎ, who condemn Valentine's Day for being superficial, commercialist and imported Western kitsch.

 Middle East and Africa

According to Jewish tradition the 15th day of the month of Av - Tu B'Av (usually late August) is the festival of love (hag haahava). In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them (Mishna Taanith end of Chapter 4). In modern Israeli culture this is a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.

In Turkey, Valentine's Day is called Sevgililer Günü which translates into "Sweet Hearts Day".

In Persian culture (Iran) Sepandarmazgan is a day for love, which is on 29 Bahman in the jalali solar calendar. The corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar is 17 February. Sepandarmazgan were held in the Great Persian Empire in the 20th century BC.

 The Americas

In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados (lit. "Day of the enamored", or "Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Day") is celebrated on June 12, when couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards and flower bouquets. This day was chosen probably because it is the day before the Saint Anthony's day, known there as the marriage saint, when many single women perform popular rituals, called simpatias, in order to find a good husband or a boyfriend.

In Colombia, the Día del amor y la amistad (lit. "Love and Friendship Day") is celebrated on the third Friday and Saturday in September, because of commercial issues. In this country the Amigo secreto ("Secret friend") tradition is quite popular, which consists of randomly assigning to each participant a recipient who is to be given an anonymous gift (similar to the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa).

Asia

Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day has emerged in Japan and Korea as a day on which women, and less commonly men, give candy, chocolate or flowers. It has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers. In Japan this is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from the words giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"). This contrasts with honmei-choko; chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning "friend".

By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged. On March 14, men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or marshmallows; hence "White Day". However, lingerie and jewelry have become common gifts.

In South Korea, there is also Pepero Day, celebrated on November 11, when young couples give each other romantic gifts. There is an additional day for single people, Black Day, celebrated on April 14.

In Chinese culture, there is a counterpart to Valentine's Day, called "The Night of Sevens" (七夕); according to legend the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid meet in Heaven on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. A slightly different version of this day is celebrated in Japan as Tanabata, on July 7th of the solar calendar.