Bulgarians are not particularly talkative about love. Well, judging from social networks, it seems this axiom is no longer 100% true. There are a great many virtual flowers, kisses and plush hearts around. Yes, it is no longer necessary to buy and give real flowers to one's sweetheart - posting some on their Facebook account is perfectly enough, and it's so easy for both sides to the love affair.

Our reporter however has switched off her PC and has taken a tour in Sofia to talk to people about St. Valentine. The young guys honor the day, and with older generations it is a different story. She was curious what they had done for the sake of love and what they think of St. Valentine's Day. Most declined to talk, saying “I'm in a hurry”. Why is no one willing to talk about love? Finally she found an elderly man who agreed to share his memories with her: 

„Way back, nobody was aware of St. Valentine. I was a young man before World War 2, and then the war years came. Young people had quite different problems to deal with. Love is inborn; it is like being thirsty or hungry. My mother got married in 1924. She made herself a dress with three-quarter sleeves. Her mother-in-law though was unhappy saying the sleeves revealed too much flesh. So, there were iron rules in both ethics and aesthetics at that time.”

“Oh, come on, we are too old for love, our time has passed”, Kolyo and his wife told our reporter. At least, they have articulate views about love: 

„Love does not have a narrow meaning. It is universal. It is not addressed to just a man or woman. Love is everywhere and in everything. Let this day be celebrated, but we have to bear in mind that love in a relationship is just a small particle of the great universal love."

Ivan Sapundzhiev, a salesman in an antique shop, came across with a bit shocking view about love:  

„Love is transient. People sing songs about eternal love. There is no eternal love. Love always comes to an end. I had a friend and when we were teenagers he was in love with a girl who lived 40 km away. We had no cash, so we went to see her on foot. When we got to her house her grandparents had hidden her somewhere. They would not let her out. Well, my friend and the girl did have an affair but only later.” 
 
Archeologist Dr. Boyan Dumanov was not shy to talk about St. Valentine's.  

„People should respect each other and demonstrate respect and affection every day, or at least as often as possible. This kind of behavior though is strikingly uncommon in Bulgaria. Whatever change comes, Bulgarians only take its negative sides. What did we learn from communism? Nothing, we just took the worst of it. What did we make out of western culture? Nothing, we are skeptical about western habits and ways. It seems Bulgarians care more about material benefits, not about spiritual ones.” 
 
Finally, Dimitar Angelov who went back in time to remember how young people in love used to party in the 1960s:  

„Well, there would be partying in private homes with some music and dancing. It doesn't matter whether the holiday is Catholic or East Orthodox: let us celebrate! Any occasion that is a source of positive emotions is worth marking.”
 
Did you already get your cookie with the words "I love you" and marzipan icing? It's sweet for the palate and sweet for the heart - the taste of requited love. People should never be shy to discuss love. Let us make it obvious everywhere. And best wishes for St. Valentine's Day, and for the Bulgarian celebration of wine, St. Tryphon the Pruner, both marked on 14 February! Let love prevail; in every single day of our lives! And, it is a good idea to toast love with a glass of good red wine!

English Daniela Konstantinova