Valentines Day The U.K. Way

Today is Valentines Day in the U.K., which means something different than it does in the states. First of all, the Brits are a lot more laid back about it. Secondly, it is a day when men show women they love them but no reciprocity is expected. Thirdly, it is about love for a specific person; there is no universal exchange of Valentines cards among elementary school children, with family and with others. A British columnist writing in one of the ubiquitous free newspapers distributed in the tube each evening yesterday blamed the whole thing on America and specifically on one Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts, who first encouraged the sending of Valentines in the United States in 1847. (As usual, the columnist failed to note that the Howland was only introducing to the U.S what was already a widespread custom in Great Britain--see next post). Regardless, of how it started, Brits seem to have a complicated relationship with the holiday. This morning, when I went to the local Sainsbury for milk, there were a lot of men standing in line--many having clearly just gotten out of bed from the looks of their bedhead hair--with bouquets of roses of various sizes. Throughout the day, we noticed various couples doing the lovey-dovery thing in various places. But when I called a local pub to check on a reservation tonight for dinner, I wasn't told as I expected that there were no places available due to the Valentines Day crush; rather the lack of seats was blamed on tonight's rugby match.