the effects of being multi-cultural during valentine’s day

As if the crazy amount of flowers, cheesy Hallmark cards, chocolates, and fully-booked, classy restaurants are not good enough signs that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner (oh, I forgot to add the constant PDA to the list); or signs to your mother that she might soon need to do some serious matchmaking; or just plainly and simply that you are single; try being reminded of this day (not God-awful at all… after all, I do love, well, love.) three times a year.

See, up until today, I was comfortable with the fact that I’ve had to live with my multi-cultural identity. I feel that sometimes I forget that when I’m in any Latin American setting and speak Spanish, I look weird and out of place, even though I’m in my comfort zone. Likewise, when I’m in an Asian setting and speak Spanish, I definitely look weird and, although not necessarily out of place, I look like a tourist. But back to the story. Up until today, everything was fine. I learned, since I was little, that I had to celebrate V-day twice a year: Colombians celebrate this lovey dovey date in mid-September; Americans in the U.S. celebrate this on Feb. 14th.

Today, however, I learned that I get to celebrate this truly delightful day yet again. As if celebrating this day twice a year weren’t enough, add one more: the Chinese Valentine’s Day. Dependent on the lunar calendar, this fateful day comes around mid-August, give or take a week or two. But, unlike your traditional chocolates and teddy bears, men and women go to festivals  (七夕节 QiXi Festival, i.e.) to learn to carve melons and find the love of their life. Yes: little girls and young women show their carving-melon skills and make wishes about finding a good husband. And, lo and behold! Chinese Valentine’s Day is only three weeks away–yet ANOTHER reminder to my mom that her daughter needs to refine her skills in melon carving or make better wishes.

Professional Melon Carving - Red Jelly Fish Website

I’ve never spent an August in Asia, until now. Now that my parents have decided to move to Taiwan, I get to taste what life would be like had I grown up in Asia. Come September, however, I’ll go back to my Colombian roots. And, yes… by that time, I’ll be celebrating yet another Valentine’s Day with a great big box of Godiva chocolates or an 11-lb. jar of Nutella (yes, this does indeed exist)–I haven’t quite made up my mind yet.

So, why not celebrate different Halloweens or Earth Days throughout the year? Why choose different dates for Valentine’s Day? Why can’t everybody just get together and choose one universal date? And then, it hit me: people are finding excuses to celebrate love during the year. But why? Why not celebrate love every day? (Now that’s a thought.)

Although, I’ll probably be devouring my Godiva chocolates as I watch “Life is Beautiful,” at least three times a year anyway, I really feel like any devout proclamation made in the name of love should be in the moment itself, not a special holiday. The little things we take advantage of every day–from the kind smiles and warm embraces–are the things we should be celebrating. The tight-knit friendships we have and the family ties that show unconditional love are the things we should be celebrating. (See, I told you I’m all for loving love, even though I do complain about it. But at least being multi-cultural has its plus. Otherwise I would never have reached this conclusion.)

(Ugh, I hate to end this like a cheesy hallmark card. But, hey.You know those cards make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, so I hope this does too.)

I propose a toast to all of you out there: find love every day, not just Valentine’s Day. Learn to live love.

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