This year, February 14th is a very special day.
I'd like to wish each and everyone of my visitor who read this post,
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Note: This is my 2010 Valentine's Day post. My 2012 Valentine's Day post is here.
Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?
I do, I do, I do.....!
What do you say on this special day?
I Love You
Saya cinta pada mu - Malay
Wo Ai Ni - Mandarin
Je t'aime - French
Ich liebe Dich - German
Aloha wau ia 'oe - Hawaiian
Main tumse pyar karta hun or main tumse pyar karti hun - Hindi
Nan unnai khadal likeran - Tamil
Ti amo - Italian
Kimi o ai shiteru - Japanese
Tangsinul sarang ha yo - Korean
Mahal kita - Pilipino (thanks to Andrea)
Jag a Iskar Dig - Swedish
Jeg elsker deg - Norwegian (thanks to Mia)
Ya tebya lyublyu - Russian (thanks to Tatyana)
Te iubesc - Romanian (thanks to Meredith)
Sa Ga Po - Greek (thanks to Kimberly)
Tell me more, tell me more .....!
Who is the special person(s) in your life?
Husband, son, daughter, father, mother, girlfriend, boyfriend, brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle, auntie ..... who else?
What is your present to him / her?
a) Yourself
b) Something money can buy
c) Something money cannot buy
The colours of roses:
Red - Sincere love and respect, courage and passion
Deep Pink - appreciation and thank you
Light Pink - admiration and sympathy
Yellow - friendship, joy, gladness, promise of a new begining
White - spiritual love and purity, bridal rose
Lavender - love at first sight and enchantment
Orange - a passionate desire, enthusiasm and fascination
How many roses do you wish for?
1 Rose - Love at first sight, you are the one
2 Roses - Mutual love
3 Roses - I Love You
6 Roses - I wanna be yours
7 Roses - I am infatuated with you
9 - An Eternal Love
10 - Your are perfect
11 - You are the one I love most in my life
12 - Be my steady
13 - Secret admirer
15 - I am truly sorry, please forgive me
24 - Can't stop thinking about you, 24 hours a day
99 - I will love you for as long as I live
100 - devoted as a couple till ripe old age
101 - You are my one and only one
108 - Please marry me
365 - Can't stop thinking about you, each and everyday
999 - Everlasting and eternal love
In the east, the peony is the Chinese Queen of Flowers. It is a symbol of beauty, love and romance. I have never seen a real peony, neither can I get a real one, so this is a picture of a peony made from silk. In the days of old China, palace concubines used to decorate their rooms with beautiful peonies to keep the Emperor’s desire for them unabated. Families with marriageable daughters will display pictures or real peonies in the living room so that their daughter will get married soon. However, mature couples do not display the peony in their bedroom as this will encourage the husband to be too 'active' and look for 'sweet young things' !
While Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th, the Chinese Valentine's day falls on the 15th day of the lunar new year. This year it falls on the February 28th. Here in certain towns in Malaysia, e.g. Penang, Ipoh, Port Klang, events are held where bachelor boys and girls have fun in the throwing of oranges into the sea or lakes in the hope of finding a good husband/wife. The girls throw the oranges while the guys will retrieve them out later. Phone and/or contact details are written on the oranges so that the person who fish out the orange can start the first move later. Folklore has it that in the days of old China, a Lantern Festival will be held on the 15th day. This is the only day in the whole year that young unmarried maidens are allowed to go out, accompanied by a chaperon of course. So, many a gentlemen will also gather in the streets to have a glimpse of the lovely prospects. According to legend, a fairy matchmaker from the moon would tie red strings of destiny on their legs, so couples end up being together.
This is a Chinese New Year decoration at the 1-Utama Shopping Complex with big red lanterns and 3 Maneki Neko cats wishing customers Happy New Year. Maneki Neko is also known as the Lucky Cat or Wealth Welcoming Cat ( 招財貓, pinyin 招き猫). Other names include Beckoning Cat, Welcoming Cat, Money Cat, Fortune Cat. It is believed to bring good luck to the owner. It depicts a Japanese Bobtail Cat beckoning with an upright paw and is usually placed at business entrances or the cashier's counter welcoming customers. A raised left paw is said to attract more customers while a right paw attracts wealth. Some are mechanically or battery powered with a continously moving paw. Perhaps you have seen them before.
In Malaysia, the Lunar New Year is celebrated by the Chinese. It is a cultural celebration of the Spring Festival. This year couples in love will be torn between filial piety and romance. They have to choose between going home for the New Year Eve reunion dinner or celebrating a romantic candlelit dinner for two. I'm sure many will choose the former over the latter. There are other days couples can celebrate romance, like a belated Valentine or their own anniversary dates.
GONG XI FA CAI !
This post is dedicated to Ms Rosey Pollen of Dung Hoe from Colorado, USA. She was the first commenter in my previouse post, "The Mickey Mouse Plant From Flower to Fruit." She lives in a place far far away from me and I have learnt a lot of American ways, expressions and unique words from her. I envy the amount of snow she is getting there now. At the moment, I am sitting by the window wishing that the sky will drop some snow instead of the daily rain water that we are getting. I must admit that what I enjoyed most is the cyber 'hugs' I get from her in my comments section. Yay!
Note: The roses are photographed from the Strawberry Farm at Genting Highlands, Malaysia.
Post publication updates: List of related posts
1. Gardenfrist of Bloomintyme -
If You Were a Plant, He'd be .....
2. Kimberly of Garden in Paradise -
Passionate Possies.
3. Ami of Southeast Florida Garden Evolvement -
Celebration Bouquets for the New Year.
4. Babara of Gardening in Mannheim, Germany -
Fairtrade Flowers for Valentine's Day.
5. Poetic Shutterbug -
Valentine's Day Poetry.
6. Wendy of Greenish Thumb -
Happy gbbd, v-day and Cny, she has the beautiful narcisus bloom that I am longing for.
7. Stephanie of Steph's Green Space -
Hearts for the Season.
8. Lotusleaf of Garden Tropics -
Blooming Friday-Heart's for Valentine's Day.
9. Helen (Islandgal246) of My Rustic Bajan Garden -
Happy Valentine.
This is my entry for Blooming Friday, 2nd week of February 2010. The theme this week is "Colours." My grateful thanks to Katarina at Roses and Stuff for hosting Blooming Friday. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.
This is also my entry for Fertilizer Friday. My grateful thanks to Tootsie at Tootsie Time for hosting Fertilizer Friday. To see what others have posted or to participate, visit here.
This is also my entry for Today's Flowers #80. My grateful thanks to the TF folks: Santilli, Denise, Pupo and Valkyrien for hosting Today's Flowers. To participate or view other floral displays around the world, click here.
