(no subject)

[jadore-vin.livejournal.com]

Is Valentine's Day typically celebrated in Russia? If yes, do people do anything distinct or different to celebrate it than in the US? (Greeting cards, red roses, choosing a specific *valentine*, terrible poems that begin "Roses are red/ Violets are blue....," etc, etc...)

Comments

[gera.livejournal.com]

You need to realize that it hadn't been celebrated (or even acknowledged) in Russia at the very least until the 90s. So whatever "traditions" exist now are fresh and, most likely, borrowed.

[insaint.livejournal.com]

I don't recall it being celebrated until about mid-90s. (From then on, I have embarrassing high school memories.)

[http://users.livejournal.com/celsium_/]

Our "terrible poems" usually use rymes like "кровь-любовь")))

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

"Ты красива, словно роза,
Только разница одна -
Роза вянет от мороза,
а ты, [female name here], никогда!"

[temcat.livejournal.com]

That's what a spoiled mind means. I automatically expect a swear word when I see such a placeholder in square brackets - before even reading the text of the placeholder :-D

[mithgol.livejournal.com]

I've just expected the same!

(frozen)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

We Russians don't need that Valentine's Day - we have Men's Day (February 23) and Women's Day (March 8) to celebrate.

(frozen)

[ja-va.livejournal.com]

Feb 23 is NOT a men's day,- it is ARMY day, not the same thing AT ALL. It usually is used to congradulate all men, as it is supposed they all are "defenders of the country", but calling it "men's day" is still very far fetched.
The date is, actually, anniversary for the creation of "Peoples army" by the Bolshivik forces after the revolution.
Sad day, at best.

(frozen)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

> Feb 23 is NOT a men's day,- it is ARMY day

I know.

> not the same thing AT ALL.

Formally - you're right, practically - wrong.

> It usually is used to congradulate all men

Exactly. With no relation to the army service - starting from the boys in kindergarten. Of course, the army theme is strong - in cards, congratulations. gifts, etc. - as the army is one of the ultimate boys' and men's thing, where girls and women do not belong.

The closest analogue in the West is the Father's Day, except February 23 is not only for fathers.

> as it is supposed they all are "defenders of the country", but calling it "men's day" is still very far fetched.

It does correctly reflect the reality though.

> The date is, actually, anniversary for the creation of "Peoples army" by the Bolshivik forces after the revolution.

Who cares?
The France National Day is the day of capturing of Bastille fortress by the French "bolsheviks", so what?

> Sad day, at best.

Poor you.
For the most of us it's a very happy day, full of nice memories, gifts an congratulations from our parents first, then our girls-classmates, our women-coworkers, our kids and our wives.

(frozen)

[ja-va.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about me, I have enough happy days throughout a year not related to the bloodsuckers, who tormented my Motherland unlit just a little while ago.
I don't believe it was France who got thrown into the third world position thanks to a certain group of idiots. French can celebrate whatever the hell they want.

(frozen)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

How pathetic.
Calm down, dude.

Remember, "разруха не в клозетах, разруха в головах" :)

(frozen)

[ja-va.livejournal.com]

I hope you watched this film well enough to understand that it confirms my opinion on the subject, rather then yours.
"Шариковы" у власти- это как раз о них, радимых. А разруха- от пения "интернационала",... и празнования "дней армии" :))

(frozen)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

I have nothing to add to my previous comment, dude .

(frozen)

[ja-va.livejournal.com]

Then don't post pointless comments. I read your previous one the first time.

(frozen)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

Dude, don't try to decide for me what I should or should not be doing. Stick to your own agenda.

(frozen)

[oryx_and_crake]

Would you please stop this pointless flame.

[neckapb.livejournal.com]

Traditionally no. However, younger generations tend to ape it from the Western world - that's another effect of globalisation.

[alamar.livejournal.com]

To make up a full scale of opinions, I have to show these two banners:
http://rodoved.info/kupala_banner.gif
and
http://www.ljplus.ru/img/l/i/lihmir/kupala1.gif
:))

[nikolenka.livejournal.com]

nice

[miauh.livejournal.com]

as for me, i like making some handmade heartshaped cards for my male friends. :)
it's not a real holiday like March 8 when there are lots of flowers, cards...
but i think that guys will really appreciate these small cards.
as we say - "дорог не подарок, дорого внимание"
:)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

That's why we love you, girls!

[temcat.livejournal.com]

I don't think this is the only reason :-D

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

True :)

[miauh.livejournal.com]

:)
thanx....

[nikolenka.livejournal.com]

I am making cards also, though I am lacking in the inspiration department for the written part. Do you know any websites with cute or playful messages in Russian or English? The English ones I'm finding are much too serious. And I don't think
"Ты красива, словно роза,
Только разница одна -
Роза вянет от мороза,
а ты, [female name here], никогда!"

would be quite appropriate for a woman to write to a man. :)
(Thanks, b0bb)

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

I don't think it could be understood or appreciated by your male friends, but here is what was written on the message board in one of Russian universities on February 23rd:

"Дорогие студенты!
Учитесь!
Иначе этот праздник может стать для вас ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНЫМ!"

[b0bb.livejournal.com]

The problem is that, in Russian culture, it was men who were supposed to write poems to women - not vice versa.

However, if you asked for "terrible poems", I have some for you.
Look at that sample of fine poetry:

Илона Грошева
ПРАЗДНИК ВСЕХ ОТЦОВ

Сегодня с самого утра,
Торжественно и тихо,
Оделась младшая сестра
И прошмыгнула лихо

На кухню к маме поскорей,
Там что-то зашумело -
Мы с папой тоже побыстрей
Умылись - и за дело:

Я форму школьную одел,
В костюм оделся папа.
Все как всегда, но все же нет -
Отец медаль достал из шкафа.

На кухне нас пирог заждался,
И вот тогда я догадался!

Сегодня - праздник всех отцов,
Всех сыновей, всех, кто готов
Свой дом и маму защитить,
Всех нас от бед отгородить.

Я не завидую отцу -
Ведь я, как он, и я спасу
Отчизну, если будет надо,
Ну а пока бы мармелада

От пирога отковырнуть...
И снова в школу, снова в путь,
Где мне подскажут, может быть,
Как папу с мамой защитить!

[miauh.livejournal.com]

"The problem is that, in Russian culture, it was men who were supposed to write poems to women - not vice versa."
why??!!
you mean only for StValentine?
:-/

[miauh.livejournal.com]

actually i never use sites - i make them up myself - so they are very private... thay might be serious, but still "light" enough for a holiday card.

to tell you the truth - i don't like this at all:
Ты красива, словно роза,
Только разница одна -
Роза вянет от мороза,
а ты, [female name here], никогда!

as for me it sounds too pathetic... even a bit childish or oldfashioned... i don't know how to call it...
:)

[jadore-vin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the replies, I was just curious. :)

[stephan-nn.livejournal.com]

After перестройка we started celebrating foreign holidays like St. Valentine's day and Haloween (not for country but in little companies or offices). But it is NOT OFFICIAL.

And many people don't like St. Valentine's day. So I saw one time a message: "Русский день всех влюблённых - это Иван Купала!!!"

[jadore-vin.livejournal.com]

Due to my writer's block, actions and pictures will have to suffice this year in place of words (thus freeing myself from any possible linguistic mix ups) :)

Is Happy Valentine's Day "С днём Валентином" in Russian?

[sisyphus.livejournal.com]

i believe with the 'saint' in there: "С днем Святого Валентина"