Valentine fever grips city

Yoliswa Dube and Bongani Ndlovu Chronicle Reporters
THE day to celebrate love is exactly 48 hours away and all the hopeless romantics are making their final preparations-maybe dinner reservations, last minute shopping or gift wrapping. Those unlucky in love are probably not thinking much of the day, perhaps even pretending they can’t see the red and white memorabilia across the city’s shops. We certainly wouldn’t worry about those!

Cupid’s bow has undoubtedly struck the heart of Bulawayo as Valentine’s Day fever has gripped the city with shops dotted around the metropolis displaying an assortment of gifts such as teddy bears, perfumes, gift baskets, roses and gift cards in the traditional red and white colours synonymous with the Day of Love.

Window shopping is the order of the day with people walking around to find the perfect gift to show their affection for their loved ones. This year, shops will have to outfox each other for the best priced Valentine’s goodies.

A snap survey around the city showed that shops such as Great Expectations, Gift Box and Meikles have been fully equipped and had been displaying their wares for the month of love ahead of time.

Great Expectations owner Stanslous Mupundu said this year he wanted men to buy the ladies in their lives beds and wardrobes. He said for the Valentine’s period, the shop had specials, just for lovers.

“We have leatherette bases for sale and people can come in during this period and buy cash or even on hire purchase. This year we want people to buy beds, fridges, wardrobes and the like for their loved ones,” said Mupundu.

He said last year, business was brisk during the Valentine’s period but did not expect to make the same amount of money this year, based on the low sales experienced during the festive season.

“Last year, the busiest day was Valentine’s Day, where we made more than $5,000,” said Mupundu.
On the day of love, Mupundu said the shop will be open for late night shopping to cater for those who want to do some last minute shopping.

Owner of Gift Box, Lucretia Gwisai, said chocolates had been running out at her shop. She said the gifts she sold were custom made to suit the taste of individual customers.

“People come in and place orders and I help them pick the goodies they want for their loved ones. We make custom gifts for people who want to surprise their better halves,” said Gwisai.

She said she has been in business since December last year and expects good business during Valentine’s Day.
“I have been in business for just over two months and I feel that Valentine’s Day will bring me good business. We have had orders for presents as far as two weeks back and I expect that number to increase,” said Gwisai.

At the City Hall, those selling flowers are also gearing up for the day. Flowers most popular with Valentine’s Day are lillies, tulips, gerbera, daisies, hydrangea, orchids, fragrant flowers such as gardenias, freesia and hyacinths, callas, succulents and the ever so popular red roses.

Saint Valentine’s Day, also known as Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.

St Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical celebration of one early Christian saint named Valentinus. Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14, and added to later martyrologies. A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.

According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.

Today, Saint Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine’s Day.

The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending greeting cards known as “valentines”. The tradition has cascaded to Africa and Zimbabwe is no exception.

Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.