Valentine's Day

Messages written from the heart

Love, the eternal inspiration of poets and artists, floods the hearts of people from all over the world on February 14. The celebration of Saint Valentine, as the patron saint of lovers, is peculiar to Catholicism, where it appeared in the 15th century. Although there are debates in the West whether to celebrate or behave like any other day, the custom of giving gifts to loved ones on this holiday has taken off so much that there is even talk of "Valentine's fever".

For Valentine's Day, the most common gifts are flowers and chocolates, with of course the inevitable message full of kind words. Bouquets and flower arrangements arrive all over the world, to addresses in Rome, Paris, New York, China, Japan, Australia, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Kotor, and flower decoration experts say that flowers open the gates of the heart and recommend:

• an arrangement in a fairytale and romantic style: for dreamers and lovers
• red roses in a box: for passionate, glamorous ladies who will feel like movie divas with this arrangement
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  teddy bear holding a bouquet: for big and small ladies who don't want to grow up
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• perfume, chocolates and champagne tucked into a harmonious flower arrangement: the right choice for a romantic evening for two.
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Valentine's Day has made February 14th a particularly important date, and it's hard to say whether it's the incurable romance, the diffusion of cultures, fashion, or all of them together. The spiritually aware part of the Orthodox East responded to the spread of the celebration of Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, by returning to tradition - by celebrating Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of winegrowers and vines. Love in the West, vineyards and wine in the East - reason enough for all Christians to celebrate.

There are various beliefs and customs associated with Trifundana. It is believed that from this day spring begins, that nature awakens and flourishes, that like love, it begins to fill people's hearts. Giving flowers, anonymous messages written on lace-studded cards; stories about falling in love with the first person you see on February 14, according to the unanimous opinion of ethnologists, belong to the tradition associated with this holiday.