friendship day
Hauskaa Ystävänpäivää and Happy Friendship Day, everyone!
Since learning about this very inclusive celebration, I like it far more than our over-commercialized and wasteful Valentine's Day, as long as we keep it simple. I did make this heart for you, dear readers, by recycling and cutting up a proof of a collagraph print, just like the number 3 made a little while ago.
It is amazing how many people and even countries now loathe and try to banish Valentine's Day. Yet there are those who are eager to go to Love, a town in Saskatchewan on this day of the year.
And here's a story of another kind of love, about a diplomat who fell in love with the Finnish language.
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 14, 2007 12:00 AM
Comments
Ah Saint Valentines day Marja-Leena - the day when men are supposed to give flowers, cards and hoards of chocolate to their sweethearts. I too would rather have it as 'Friendship Day.' So, Happy Friendship Day to you! Now, there's another tag on this - the Saint Valentines Day Massacre in 1929. No love lost between Capone & Bugs and history tells us they were not the "best of friends."
Posted by: Roger | 06:49 14 February 2007
However you wish to call the day, I am glad to have an excuse to express my love for friends and loved ones alike. Happy Friendship Day to you, too, dear friend! Thank you for the beautiful, shining heart.
Posted by: MB | 11:02 14 February 2007
Happy Friendship Day Marja-Leena. This is the best thing yet I've come across yet re February 14th, and I'm celebrating my new blogging friends!
Posted by: Tall Girl | 13:07 14 February 2007
Roger, thank you. Massacres and wars never do stop for St. Valentine, do they? But on this day, I like to think of the good things, our friends and loved ones in our lives. Of course, we do need to think of them every day, not just when the card comapnies tell us to :-)
MB and Tall Girl, my dear blog friends, thank you for being who you are!
Posted by: marja-leena | 15:28 14 February 2007
An old couple were on the Skytrain this afternoon not too far from me. The man told another passenger of his experiences in the war, living in England, France and Belgium, though not fighting on the front lines, I don't think. He was thankful for having gotten married here. When we left the train, I wished them a Happy Valentine's Day, and he said, "Oh is that what it is today?" and we laughed. He said something about a good/big heart. They made my day!
Posted by: erika | 16:32 14 February 2007
Erika, what a touching story!
Posted by: marja-leena | 18:35 14 February 2007
Thanks, it sure is!
Posted by: erika | 00:02 15 February 2007
Friendship is so much less entrancing and so much harder work to maintain than most people's idea of romantic love (judging by the divorce rate), I doubt that Americans would ever countenance a Halmarky holiday for it.
Posted by: Dave | 19:03 15 February 2007
Dave, you think friendship is harder to maintain than marriage?! I'm a little confused by your statement... Finland will remain unique with their holiday, I suppose, though I think they've caught on to the business of selling a lot of cards and flowers too.
Posted by: marja-leena | 20:39 15 February 2007
I made a tasty but informal dinner, eaten at the coffee table with 3 candles, while watching the hockey game (which we won). Without any discussion beforehand, neither of us intended or wanted or needed to buy any chocolates, cards or roses. Last year (our first), that was fine, but this year all we needed was the exchange of words and a cuddle. After all, "can't buy me love!"
Posted by: erika | 22:18 15 February 2007
Hallo from Australia. I found you via Box Elder and am so glad I did. I heartily agree about Valentine day! This year we made each other a little gift of our love. I awoke to find a large hand cut heart on the side of my studio ( being built) and I made a tiny set of drawers enclosing found objects, for him.
Posted by: herhimnbryn | 13:31 16 February 2007
Herhimbryn, welcome! I've seen you over at a couple of blogs, and saw your fabulous Valentine moon on yours. Sounds like you've had a sweet Valentine's! The personal, the homemade is a wonderful gift.
Posted by: marja-leena | 13:45 16 February 2007
Marja-leena, thank you for the very nice comments on my blog. I am so happy to learn that you have been a recent visitor. I love your blog and pop in quite often. I think a Friendship Day is a wonderful holiday and believe that it would catch on like wildfire in the States - and will be as over-commercialized as all our other holidays!
Posted by: Loretta | 17:56 17 February 2007
Thank you for the heart and the words, Marja-Leena - I'm late to the party but not to our friendship, I hope!
Posted by: beth | 18:08 17 February 2007
Loretta, welcome! And thank you for your nice comments. I look forward to more visits back and forth.
Beth, never too late, thanks so much!
Posted by: marja-leena | 20:47 17 February 2007
Oh, I'm behind in all my blog reading. Happy Belated Friendship Day! Sounds like a lovely idea to me.
Posted by: leslee | 04:27 19 February 2007
Hi Leslee, glad you like the idea of Friendship Day. I'm behind my blog reading too. When it rains, it pours - my life is usually quiet but when things happen they come all at once.
Posted by: marja-leena | 10:44 19 February 2007
What a fabulous man!!!
Is he married???
Thank you for the lovely link to inspire me for a day's studies
Posted by: Mouse | 01:01 21 February 2007
Hi Mouse! Isn't he wonderful!? With your passionate interest in languages, including Finnish, you'd make a great match!
Posted by: marja-leena | 01:13 21 February 2007
Very late but not wanting to be left out! Love and friendship to you, and happy to see the prints are taking shape now. hearts and flowers!
Posted by: Lucy | 22:24 22 February 2007
Lucy, thank you very much for the love, friendship, hearts and flowers - so wonderful to have found you!
Good night!
Posted by: marja-leena | 23:04 22 February 2007