Young Ideas for Senior Couples to Celebrate Valentine's Day

It is universally known that Valentine’s Day which is celebrated on the 14^th of February every year is the ‘day of love’. So, it’s not unusual to express love for that extra special person in one’s life on this day. Basically, it’s very natural to love and to be loved on the Valentine’s Day. Have a look at the card shops or the gift shops and they seem to be especially decked up for the 14^th February occasion. Every corner of the shops reflects the vibrant red color and that is the color of love. Usually the available gifts and bouquets are heart shaped which is also a symbol of love. Then the question is what makes me write this hub because I feel a hub should have something special to offer. Definitely, nobody would be willing to read something very common about 14^th February but still I am willing to take up the risk of writing about Valentine’s Day. The reason behind is…

Yes, I have something very unusual to write about the day of love, 14^th February. I am an Indian lady, enjoying my mid forty’s stint but must openly admit that I after being married for almost fifteen years am still shy of expressing love in public. This is not only applicable in my case rather it is the regular norm among the people of my age in India. Then imagine how the grand old people of India would express or react to their love for that special one on Valentine’s Day. I am sure they too have a suppressed desire to share their fondness for each other but unfortunately it never comes out of that shell. Why is it so?

Indian Tradition and Culture: It is an age old practice that in India people rarely express their affection towards their love publicly. It is rather considered to be a taboo especially in the middle class and below. It should not be exhibited. Gradually, many things are changing but still it is not a very common sight except among the upper class. Along with tradition Indian culture is to keep love under wraps because Indians normally shy away from expressing love. It is actually accepted as an indecent act if it is expressed openly in front of the elders. It may sound orthodox but this is what India is. Presently, the approach of the Indian youths is changing very fast and they do not try to hide their love in front of their elders. Here, we should not forget that Indian society is not only urban but has a rural background too. It is still a long way to go for the rural Indians to understand what Valentine’s Day is!

Ignorance about Valentine’s Day: Though this day has become popular among the youths of urban India but not very long ago. In comparison with the popularity of the 14^th February in the western countries of the world it is far less and senior members at large are still to adopt it. The natives of rural India of any age group are yet to have an impact. Thanks to the card and gift companies as they took up Valentine’s Day as their source of huge earning by attracting the urban youths.

Rural and Urban Set-up: India has a rural and urban set-up both and in that case the popularity of events like Valentine’s Day has a limit. Low literacy rate and lack of education in the rural areas create an orthodox mind set. Though education has guided people to modernity in urban India but modern educated seniors are yet to give up their age old practice of not exhibiting love. This is the cause which hinders the uniform popularity of the 14th February, the day of love, in all over India.

Wrong Concept as a Valentine’s Day Myth: The youths have taken this occasion to be theirs. The youths have considered 14^th February as theirs but it’s a myth of this celebration. Elders with lots of love in their heart for the beloved get skeptical in India. They too consider love to be a matter of the juniors because the youths are quite vocal about their love and the elders end up feeling shy and refrain themselves from expressing it openly.

Thus, it is very clear now that why the Indian seniors and the middle aged are aloof from the celebrations of the day which is popularly known as the day of love. Usually, it is very common among the couples that one may have a suppressed wish to celebrate the Valentine’s Day but when the other half shows no willingness towards it then automatically the desire takes a back seat. Youths openly come up with their wish but the seniors and middle aged keep mum as they are afraid of being laughed at.

Add some Twist

Some Indian television shows came up with a great concept of celebrating Valentine’s Day and it really touched my heart. Let me share it with you all with an expectation that the youths of India and other countries where the 14^th February is only popular among the youths will pay some special attention to the concept. I hope, the youths will emotionally feel the need of this occasion.

A Sweet Concept

Do the aged people on their own celebrate 50^th marriage anniversary or by the way any anniversary after a certain age? In general it’s ‘no’. Children and grand children celebrate it with a bang while the couple blush and feel shy. Don’t they recall their marriage in some corner of their heart? I am sure they do. Let the youths take a charge and make the Valentine’s Day a special day for the seniors of their family. Celebration does not mean that it has to be a grand one but according to your pocket you make it a little special for the old love birds. Life is short so give them a little pleasure and help them to bask in love of their beloved which they will never try to explore after a certain age. Youths will loose nothing other than a little time, energy and some money that which they had planned to spend with and for their own beloved.

1. Arrange a Valentine’s Day breakfast, lunch or dinner

2. Order two bouquets and make the senior couple present each other

3. Purchase gifts and let them gift one another

4. Find out their most memorable moments and capture their thoughts separately in video and play it on 14^th February

5. Try to make a scrap book with their old photographs and their special moments of togetherness.

6. Make a collage of their wedding and other different photographs.

7. Prepare such dishes which one used to make the best or loved the most during their early days of marriage

8. Let the rest of the family speak their mind and heart about the old love birds in front of the whole family

9. Offer some prohibited food or drink to the senior couples which are a big no on their health ground and then watch their concern for each other on their faces. It shows how they get scared and feel helpless by only the thought of their partner being harmed.

10. Arrange some music and if possible a romantic movie of their time.

I am sure, present day youths will come up with lot many ideas other than the ways I have suggested. Whatever be it but remember one thing that though such a celebration will constantly embarrass the old love birds but still they would be enjoying and relishing the moment within their hearts. Even they may also come up with quite interesting and romantic stories about their love. They may fail to reveal their joy due to being seniors but secretly they will start reliving their love for each other. Eyes will have a special glare and lips though sealed with shyness and awkwardness will pass a sweet little smile.

What else can be more satisfying for the young ones? Celebrate your love and help others to celebrate their love on Valentine’s Day. It will be such a pleasure because the young one can bask in the love of the senior couples. This will be in true sense ‘A Day of Love’. Celebrate 14^th February, the Valentine’s Day, and make it special for the old love birds too.