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Maggie Steele, the storybook heroine who vaults over the moon, has been attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. So many visitors, in fact, that she’s using a time zone map to keep track of them all.* People are … Continue reading →

by Lisa Smith

We are all familiar with the US version of the Valentine’s Celebration – but how do other cultures celebrate the Holiday?

In the UK a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children.

In Wales many people celebrate St Dwynwen's Day on 25 January instead of, or as well as, St Valentine's Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name says, this day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" ("Valentine — first saint of spring"), as in some places, Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

To put a unique spin on Valentine’s Day try incorporating some of the other special traditions practiced by cultures around the world.

• Leave a present for your child on the doorstep from Jack Valentine.

• Spend time with your friends and encourage your children to do the same. Focus on fellowship more than the feelings of love.

• Plant flowers, trees or bushes in celebration of the coming of Spring.
  

Valentine’s Day can be a fun and memorable day for children, families, parents and singles alike if we look at the Holiday through a different pair of eyes.

Three years of saving and planning have now been spent on a two-week trip through Europe. We landed in Frankfurt, then went to the Cinque Terra, Italy, as well as Paris and London and then back to Frankfurt. If I were going to do it again I would save the best for last and end in Italy.

Since I've been away, with only limited access to the Internet (and to keyboards that like to move all the punctuation letters around, plus some of the alphabet), I am now totally behind on LJ. (Oh, and you might notice it's 3 am in Oregon. It's noon in Europe, though, and my body is not adjusted.)

So what's new with you? Good or bad, I'm all ears. Anyone got an agent interested? Got a good review? A laughably bad one? Finally nailed down a pesky scene?





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