Germany doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day like Americans do.
A quick stroll down Frankfurt, Germany’s main shopping mall, Die Zeil, reveals very few Valentine’s Day decorations, and conservative at that. A nation sharing a border with some of the most romantic getaway destinations, Cupid’s arrow hasn’t struck wallets that hard in Germany.
Salesperson Maria Casciaro, a chocolate store employee, comments on the lack of customers:
“Years ago, Valentine’s Day was more popular. But now, it’s mostly only young people who like to buy little things.”
In Italy, Casciaro’s home country, she says people would be lining up to purchase their favorite sweets … for their sweets.
In America, it is tradition for men to buy a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates, and perhaps a cuddly stuffed toy, to show our significant others we care. This may just show how frivolous we are with our money in comparison, though.
According to the Wall Street Journal , Nicola Fink of the Association of German Florists says fellow florists expect a boost much like Mother’s Day:
“If the weather is good, and the roads aren’t icy, then we are expecting a good Valentine’s Day.”
Daniel Kanthak, from Hussel confectioneries, says the company has about a dozen products marketed specifically for Valentine’s Day. Kanthak says of a particular item being offered year round:
“What’s working very well right now is our high heel made out of chocolate.”
Michael Rotermund, PR manager at Douglas perfumeries, says of Valentine’s Day :
“It’s a bit like Halloween—it’s not really our thing. Of course, we try to use every holiday or season to offer special products to our customers, but you can’t compare the meaning of Valentine’s Day in Germany to the United States.”
Do you think Germany is just more money-conscious, or do they really not care to celebrate Valentine’s Day like Americans do?
For valentines day I got my wallet back from Germany, And they sent a nice email with it instagr.am/p/Vt7MXpGi12/
— James Wells (@Jamwells1) February 14, 2013
