Thread: Request.

How does Happy Valentine's Day translate in russian and what is the proper prounciation when spoken?

Originally Posted by natez

How does Happy Valentine's Day translate in russian and what is the proper prounciation when spoken?

Поздравляю с днём Святого Валентина

Is that a big thing over there like in the US? I have the feeling it isn't.

Originally Posted by Pravit

Is that a big thing over there like in the US? I have the feeling it isn't.

I would think not, due to the supression of religion during the Soviet Period.

My theory is that it has more to do with capitalism than religion

Originally Posted by DDT

My theory is that it has more to do with capitalism than religion

Russia seems to observe International Women's Day more than any other country.

TATY, Valentine's Day in the US is not a religious holiday. I'm pretty sure most Americans aren't even aware of a "St. Valentine."

Originally Posted by Pravit

TATY, Valentine's Day in the US is not a religious holiday. I'm pretty sure most Americans aren't even aware of a "St. Valentine."

I know. I live in the UK where it is just as popular. Fact it, it is a Saints day, so I can't see the Soviets being very pro Saints days.

Personally I think that it is just plain silly for any self respecting girl to spend too much time on this Valentines' Day thing because obviously, there is just not enough of me to go around!

Originally Posted by DDT

Personally I think that it is just plain silly for any self respecting girl . . .

or guy

I figured you'd say that! hehe

Well, I happened to be there for St. Valentines day last year, and they do advertise for it, well at least in St. Peter 'n' Moscow. People treat it as another 8th of march day and give girls flowers... face it comrades, Russia is now a capatilist country!

BTW, Russian girls really like flowers, so for all of you who have russian girlfriends, once-twice a year is not enough! And do not give even numbers!

Why aren't even numbers of flowers given in Russia?

Because even numbers of flowers are given to a dead peson (on funeral).
And as far as I know this rule is only applied if the number of flowers is relatively small.

I'd say it's mostly young people who pay attention to St. valentines. Especially of course those who have a romantic relationship with somebody. Poeple over 30... Well, some do give a card, but with many it's not a tradition. And there are still fewer people over 35 who observe this. It's nothing to do with capitalism. It's simply a foreign holiday. You can't create a custom artifically, you know, out of nothing, even if you announce something on TV every year.

If you give a russian girl 4 flowers, she will be very insulted. "Do you want me dead?" rings clear and distinctly in my memory...

I hear you are supposed to send an odd number of flowers.
Send 1,3,5, etc.
So do not send a dozen flowers. Send 11 flowers.

I asked a girl "If someone sends you a huge king's bouquet (33 flowers), would you count every flower?"
She said "Of course!"

uh oh. I gave some russian girls flowers for their birthday about 2 weeks ago. I didn't count them. Heh, one of them still talks to me a lot, the other one doesn't. Maybe the other one got an even number

By the way, the company that produces Lingvo dictionary is going to release a male-female explanatory dictionary to Valentine's Day. Here it is: http://www.lingvo.ru/valentine/dicti...682&x=129&y=14

Originally Posted by Dogboy182

. Maybe the other one got an even number

Send her one more flower in the mail and see if her attitude changes....