Valentine's Day in Nottingham
At Christmastime my English friends liberally sprinkled me with Christmas cards, so I rather expected the same on Valentine's Day. After all, at home I usually exchange cards with some close friends and we share around the chocolate and conversation hearts while admiring the roses from those with significant others who are smart enough to realize that yes, Valentine's Day is a commercial holiday, but we still want flowers.
However, I discovered last week that Valentine's Day, while a big deal in Britain and just as over-hyped and commercialized in the U.S., is just about romantic love on this side of the pond. It's a good thing I learned this before heading to the grocery store in search of fold-and-stick Thomas the Tank Engine children's cards to give out to my friends for a laugh. In England, though, I've been told that the only folks who exchange cards are couples. And, in fact, most cards are delivered anonymously.
Therefore there was no wealth of silly cards, candy hearts or chocolates to be passed about today. However, my housemate Julia and I did make a special trip to McDonalds, where we shared a Cadbury's Creme Egg McFlurry ice cream treat. Then, when I arrived at the church office where I volunteer on Thursday afternoons, someone else decided to go to McDonalds (which was a little odd, because none of my friends are regular customers). I decided to go all out, and asked her to bring me back a McFlurry made with a Cadbury's Crunchie Bar. After all, I reasoned, I haven't actually had a McFlurry (or even a Dairy Queen Blizzard, the obvious inspiration for this particular dessert) in years--until lunchtime today, of course. And I decided that, in the name of cultural exploration, I ought to try McFlurrys made with English chocolate bars.
The Crunchie McFlurry was excellent, but I admit that by the time I got to the bottom of it I was getting more than a little sick of ice cream. I am a professional journalist committed to impartial observation, however, so I soldiered on and finished it all.
This evening a few friends and I shared a bottle of pink champagne that was on sale at the local co-op, and then they all headed to the local pub for a pint and chat, but work kept me at home. I did receive one very special Valentine's Day card, however--from my grandmother back in Mesa, Arizona. Thanks, Grandma!
Comments
Cadbury Crunchie McFlurry ... mmmmmmmm!
Posted by: Former Brighton resident | February 15, 2008 02:28 PM
I, for one, am glad that we Americans don't just celebrate romantic love. I remember fondly of the Valentine's Day Parties I, as a Room Mother, hosted in our schools where a wonderful tradition of loving all of your classmates was well established and continued with these parties and cards.
Also, back then, a hand made card by the students to their parents(s) was derigeuer; my husband and I received our first personally crafted card from our eldest son which had a piece of gum affixed to it and penned were the words: MOM AND DAD, STICK WITH ME. It was signed and a big heart was drawn. I do hope this heartwarming tradition is still practiced.
I sent greetings and gifts this year and was pleased to hear that others did as well!
Posted by: Rita Brunn (Ilinois Master Gardener) | February 16, 2008 09:24 AM