Category: Let's talk
With Valentines Day fast approaching I have to ask the age old question, roses, or candies. Giving the gift of roses was started by the Romans. During this time a gift of roses had many meanings depending on the arrangement and or color. For more information about roses and their meanings, visit, http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art11761.asp. A quick search on Google for prices of roses reveals that at least in the US giving them as a gift has become affordable. On-line companies seem to be charging about twenty dollars and are willing to deliver anywhere in the US. One might pay as much as sixty dollars for the genetically altered very long stemmed big roses. At one time the expense of purchasing a dozen long stems as opposed to carnations, the cheaper counterpart, really meant caring.
On the other hand, are people beginning to take into account the commonality of roses as a valentine’s gift? Are people saying, “its been done?” If the drop in price is any indicator, I think the answer is a resounding yes. What about the death of flowers. If roses are a sign of love, new beginnings, innocence, and desire, what is one saying when the rose reaches its eventual end? Is that being taken into account as well? A better question is does that play a factor into your gift giving?
Let’s move on to candies, namely chocolate. Has chocolate become an indispensable part of this, the day for lovers? The Japanese do things a bit differently than those of us on the other side of the ocean. When a Japanese woman likes a man, she buys him expensive golf ball or computer shaped chocolate candies. For more information visit, http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/media/releases/2003/mr-03-10.html. Again, does expense mean caring? Does a two dollar bag of kisses mean the same as a bar of fifty dollar decadence? What is the message chocolate sends. Chocolate, on Valentines Day comes in heart shaped boxes, foils, and sometimes even animals. But are we saying, “I love you,” or are we saying, “Please, eat.”
Whichever way one chooses to go, roses, or candies, or both, please remember a little thought will always go farther than something that dies, or will be eaten. Love your friend family member, or partner, everyday so that when Febuary 14th rolls around they know before you try to say those three little words.
I've always wondered the same thing about roses. To me it sends the messages: "i spend money on frivilous things." and "I love you till the wilting sets in. Then I'll dry up and fall to pieces." hence the reason why all of the flowers for my wedding are silk. Maybe I'm a bit more cynical than most women but that's what i think regarding the prefabricated idea of Valentine's Day roses. As far as chocolates go, it's a sweet idea but again, where's the originality? I mean, the joy is sucked out of it the minute you realize the candy your sweetheart just gave you is the exact same box that three of your co-workers are giving their significant others.
One of my teachers felt the same way about the chocolates so he bought the box, took out all the candy (there were fifty pieces) and replaced each piece with a slip of paper telling his then girlfriend (now wife) one reason why he loves her. that to me is brilliant!Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that originality is more thoughtful than roses or candy.
i love flowers. yellow roses and sunflowers being my favorite. i would be just as happy if not happier with some hand picked dandy lions for that matter. it isn't about the cost, and i'd rather not have 50 bucks or whatever spent on me for beautiful flowers that will die in a week. wow i'm rambling and not making much sense i'm soure. this year i'm working on creative things to do or get instead of the traditional flowers and candies. i believe it means more when you put some thought and work into it instead, even though i do love receiving flowers especially when i'm not expecting them.
I'm a man and would love to receive some flowers, I don't eat candy, gbut that would be nice too. I think a gift no matter what day it is on the calendar is nice and should be given offten. Now a gift doesn't have to cost your paycheck, but a pack of gum does wonders. So that said why is the flower, or candy giving on the man? Can't a man receive a gift on this day too?
I personally don't see why men can't receive gifts then too, but we're going against "tradition" with that opinion. I personally like the candy and flowers, but something with more thought and more the kinda thing I like is better. IE, I collect the Vallintimes Bears that you can get at Wal-mart...Every year my husband tries to get me one of them. *smile* Yes I know when he gets it, but it's still something I like because he gets to go through the task of remembering which styles I do and don't have and trying to get me one as much different as possible. LOL! Besides, often he will try to add a surprise to the gift...Sometimes a pack of scented candles, sometimes a candy bar it's been a long time since I've had, but that extra touch is sweet, and I know he's really trying to surprise me. LOL, hope this makes since...To sum it up...I like the traditional gifts, but the ones that show thought and an understanding of me are a lot sweeter.
Luckily, as for roses or chocolates, they usually come together (or often you can add the box of chocolates to the roses for delivery). I speak like an expert, but I really haven't done this often, (but if you've done it once you keep receiving emails with offers). I don't really put much empphasis or thought into V-Day because I feel it's too commercial, I feel the stores and radio and tv are all telling me to be romantic, I think personal touches, birthdays and anniversaries, are much more important. The ice thing about having a "day for lovers" is for couples with kids, because often special baby sitting is offered and restaurants encourage people to go out. But, apart from that, I'm not much of a V-Day man, it isn't in the Icelandic culture. Here we have one day for the wife and one for the husband (mid Jan and mid Feb inverse respectively), those are really old traditions although, back in the day, the custom was to give the man a buffet of blackened sheep's heads and pickled testicles, something I am not crazy for really.
ut if one is to go with the commercial day of lovers I don't see anything wrong in going with the classic symbols, flowers and chocolate, I don't think the gift has anything to say about the underlying feelings, roses may lilt in a week, doesn't mean the boy friend will be sick of you in a week, a lot of expensive jewelry will last for hundreds of years whilst the celebrity marriage lasted for a day, or a week or, in the case of Britney Spears, a few hours.
It's all about knowing your partner, what he (or mostly she) likes. :)
sweet V-day cheer to yall, go shop now, the U.S. economy needs you.
mmm, sheep bits, just what the doctor ordered.I was trying to get a sense of the better gift. This all is an interesting spin. Thanks for all your replys.
My man's getting a gift this year...very personalized (he's a computer nerd) so i'm going to do a very tech-oriented gift.
I think it would be amazing if he wrote me a sweet note...that's it. :)
I think guys can receive gifts for Valentine's Day, it's just not the typical flowers and chocolates thing. I plan to get my boyfriend something, if I can, and I've gotten things for my men in the past.
I wouldn't want a guy to spend massive amounts of money on either flowers or chocolates. Both are perishable. Flowers die, chocolates get consumed ,and spending a crap-ton of money does no good. It's the thought that counts, not how many dollars go into it. Preciosa, I liked your initial post. Silk flowers for a wedding are a great idea.
Anyway, given the choices in question, I would prefer receiving flowers to chocolates. They smell good, and brighten up the room where they are put, and other people admire them. As for what kind of flowers, it doesn't really matter. In truth, I actually prefer carnations over roses. They smell just as good, if not better, and I like their texture better.
Hmm, chocolates, yumm, well, if you girls want to send your men somesheep balls just send me a message, I'll see what I can do.
They're less perishable than chocolates, they can keep for up to a year if not longer.
I think it's ok to give "perishable" items, may be he/she doesn't want another ring or chain but would love a nice, romantic night out (for those not long distance of course), those can sometimes make for life long memories and should not be discounted.