How Valentine’s Day changed over the years

LYDENBURG – Valentine’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated on February 14 each year. This festivity takes place in many countries around the world, although in most of them it is not a public holiday. There’s a drastic difference between how this day was celebrated then, and how it’s celebrated now.

This day has revolutionised so much that those who don’t receive any gifts, tend to boycott social networks to avoid seeing the posts of people displaying what they received.

In the past it was a fun-loving day marked by roses, candy hearts, red and white clothes and writing notes to friends and loved ones. According to a Lydenburg resident, Mariaan de Lange, it has changed so much that most people don’t even make an effort to make it special. “Valentine’s Day has changed, although I blame it on the cost of living,” De Lange said.

“Most people don’t have extra money to spend on things they need. In the past a woman would receive a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates, a perfume and a special meal at a fancy restaurant.

Most woman now receive one item, the partner goes out and chooses one which he feels he will be able to afford and then pays for it.”

According to Peter Mnisi another resident, the day used to be an occasion when lovers and friends expressed their love for each other, but now things have changed since technology has been introduced.

“Now people send messages via the phone, some use social networks to send the message and don’t go the extra mile,” he added.

“In my time, at school there was the Valentine exchange among students by putting cards and chocolates, mainly homemade cards, into a red decorative box,” Mnisi said.

“At the end of the day learners would exchange those cards and sometimes it would be from a secret admirer. You would get home from school and read all of the messages on your Valentine’s cards while eating your candy.”