Youth talk

I believe that if you are with a person you love then it’s worth celebrating St Valentine’s Day, even though many cultures may consider it to be a money-making scam.

Although exchanging over-the-top gifts could appear to be solely a Western tradition, many people around the globe celebrated last Sunday in style. In parts of the Arab world, for example, huge teddy bears, red roses and the exchange of cards are common. There are many, however, who try to clamp down on such rituals, due to it being considered a less-than-conservative celebration.

I don’t follow many of the romantic traditions of the day, apart from an ‘attempt’ at making dinner for my girlfriend.

But, perhaps we should note some of the true romantics around the globe. Some traditional expressions of the love included carving designs into wooden spoons, a custom thought to have originated from Welsh sailors who made them while at sea to bring back to their sweethearts.

That’s by no means the most extreme; a friend tells me of couples who lined-up for mass weddings on February 14 in the Philippines.

Hope everyone stays lucky and in love.