Around the world, Valentine’s Day is one of the popular celebrations in the calendar, second only to New Year – but Australian mums tend to dip out.
A survey of 2,500 mothers by online family retailer, mumgo.com.au, has found that while more than half of Australian mothers view Valentine’s Day as important, 30% have partners who forget the day every year.
Two-thirds of these disappointed mums get upset with their partner over this – so much so that they are more likely to resort to buying themselves a present rather than relying on their partner.
And it’s not that Aussie mums are hard to please either.
A nice dinner, a relaxing day at a spa and flowers are the top three gift choices by a long shot.
It doesn’t even matter whether dinner is at home or out: 15% prefer dining out, but 13% are happy enough to make it a family celebration at home – presuming they don’t have to cook.
Mumgo general manager Elise Gold says it's no surprise that most parents (71%) plan to spend Valentine's Day in the comfort and convenience of their own home.
"Most mothers report being too worn out to really enjoy Valentine's Day. Budgets are tighter, and babysitters hard to find.
“So many are making it more of a family celebration: with children helping pick gifts out, sharing Valentine's chocolates, and even coming along to the Valentine's meal," Elise says.
As Jo, mother of two and aged 39, told us: "We take the kids out for Valentine's dinner now. Our lives revolve around the children. It's also a day to celebrate what our love created."
Involving the family in Valentine’s Day is not historically inappropriate considering the St Valentine after whom Valentine’s Day is thought to be named. He married soldiers from the Roman Empire when it was forbidden to do so, and was gaoled.
But - being a saint – Saint Valentine didn’t discriminate when it came to whom he should help. He healed the sick daughter of one his gaolers and, before his execution, wrote her a card saying ‘From your Valentine’.
Over the years, Valentine’s Day has evolved to be a day to symbolise romantic love with gifts of confectionery, flowers and Valentine’s cards.
St Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican, Lutheran and eastern Orthodox churches.
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