As I write we are coming to the end of our first Valentine’s Day celebration in the United States, and celebrate we have. To be honest it is very hard not to celebrate Valentine’s Day here, surrounded as we are by so many references to it.
All the advertising we have seen of late has been saturated with hearts, love, flowers and cupids; many of the homes in our neighbourhood have been flying Valentine themed flags; a whole section of Target was dubbed Valentopia and filled with Valentines paraphenalia; popular candy brands released special edition Valentines candy – pink and red m and m’s, raspberry flavoured Hershey kisses; even our supermarket was overflowing with heart balloons, flower displays, enormous boxes of chocolates and valentine making kits.
Whilst Valentine’s Day doesn’t pass by unnoticed in New Zealand, it is very much taken to a whole new level here. One of the biggest differences is the way children here really get in on the celebrations. When I was teaching I never once had my class take part in any Valentine themed activities and there was never any exchanging of Valentines. I have been out of New Zealand classrooms for some time now so things may be changing, but in American classrooms Valentine’s Day is a big deal. Both Olive and Edie had a day of treats, Valentine activities and of course the big Valentine exchange.
I helped out at Olive’s class Valentine party in the afternoon. The children played heart bingo, listened to a traditional Valentine’s folktale and shared their Valentines with each other. They were also asked to tell the class something that they loved or really liked. There were many answers along the lines of “my bike”, “angry birds” and “my nintendo DS”, but when it came to Olive, without pausing she said, “my sister”. Had to blink a few tears away after that!
And so our first American Valentine’s Day was both lovely and full of love, and even though Richard wasn’t with us in body, he was very much with us in our hearts. I’ll leave you with a quick peek at the gift I bought for him. A few lines from the beautiful poem by American poet E.E.Cummings, which my mother read at our wedding…
PS quick quilt update if you are interested over at my How to make an American Quilt page.
on the cRoad again 
This is another tear jerking posts. Your girls are gorgeous as are your sentiments.
Thanks Jacqui!
Wow hon, now I feel a long wAy from home. I’m at the airport about to fly out and with a tear in my eye just wanting to be back with
My amazing family. So glad you all had such a wonderful day – and if anybody is wondering the roses are a David Austin selection – worth every dime!
And I see Edie let olive wear her boots as well- too cute xx
How lovely to see romance still alive and well in the Croad family đŸ™‚ The valentine’s activities at Olive’s school sound like a lot of fun! Thomas received his first ever valentine from his teacher (one for his 21st album) and at Chapel service they learned about St Valentine the priest who in about the year 270 A.D, a time when the church was enduring great persecution from the Romans. His ministry was to help the Christians to escape this persecution, and to provide them the sacraments, such as marriage, which was outlawed by the Roman Empire at that time. Tom also received a lovely valentine’s cookie from one of his classmates who has a Mom from New Orleans;) At Wellington Girls College the New World supermarket across the road was doing a roaring trade as Girls were buying their friends single roses! How times are changing eh! sending you all lots of love xxxx
Hi Helen. Thanks for including that historical info – was hoping to put that in my post but just got too tired so thank you! Hope you all enjoyed your Valentine’s Day.