Floral India

Valentine’s Day in India
Saint Valentine’s Day, also known as Valentine’s Day, is observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world.
St. Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. Very few facts are known about St. Valentine. He was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and buried on the Via Flaminia (road leading from Rome over the Apennine Mountains). The most popular martyrology states that he was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 AD, a time when the church was enduring great persecution. His ministry was to help the Christians to escape this persecution, and to provide them the sacraments, such as marriage. The Roman Emperor Claudius II supposedly forbade marriages of soldiers in order to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers.

Valentine’s Day is popular around the world and it is celebrated in many countries, including India. It celebrates love mainly between couples and friends.

What Do People Do?
India is well known as a culture filled with ancient traditions. The Hindu culture contradicts many of the western world’s ideals. Valentine’s Day celebrations are known to clash with India’s conservative religious background. It has only been in the most recent years that Valentine’s Day has become widely recognized in India.
Just like most people in the world, many men and women of India, particularly young couples, celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way. They dress in fine clothing and show their loved one how they feel about them. Hotels and restaurants are fully booked to accommodate couples who are expressing and celebrating their love for each other. Post offices and couriers are already filled with flower deliveries of flowers, packages and romantic letters.
Public Life
Valentine’s Day is neither a public nor a private holiday. All offices, schools, colleges, government and private institutions remain open on this day. But those who wish to enjoy the day take a personal holiday to celebrate with their partner. Public transport also operates in full swing on the day. However, there is heavy traffic congestion in many places as many couples go out to enjoy the day.
Background
Valentine’s Day is a popular global observance that is becoming increasingly popular in India over the years. Many people, particularly young people, in India started celebrating and enjoying the day in recent times.
Symbols
Popular Valentine’s Day symbols include flowers, cupid, arrows, love birds, the color red and hearts. Hearts symbolize of love, but it is also a symbol of life. Giving one’s heart to another person, so to speak, is the ultimate expression of love.
Flowers – Flowers, roses especially, have long been associated with love. They stand for love, friendship and romance.
Color Red – The color red is associated with love, passion and romance.
Love Birds – Love birds are a favorite symbol of Valentine’s Day because it has been said that they search for their mates on Valentine’s Day.
Cupid – Cupid, the god of love in mythology, is responsible for shooting arrows to make people fall in love with each other.