Be Mine

A late Valentine's day update.

John and I have decided that we will no longer celebrate Valentine's Day as a couple, instead celebrating "Schengen Day" every Feb. 14th. There is a debate as to whether or not this holiday will include both the 14th and the 15th, or the 14th alone.

"Schengen Day" gets its name from the Schengen countries (more information here), so-called because of the agreement between them, set up in the small town of Schengen, Luxembourg. This Schengen Agreement is what is currently preventing John from being here in Sweden with me. (He was otherwise due to come back on the 14th or 15th of this month.) It has had similar effects on other relationships well-known to the two of us.

This holiday is not celebrated by wearing red or pink or Valentine-y activities, rather, the celebrators are to mark its arrival by leaving the country. Preferably to a non-Schengen country, but variations are acceptable. If no country is easily accessible, a variation would be to simply not have access to your current place of dwelling for the duration of the holiday. This could involve staying at a friend's house, swapping houses, staying at a hotel, whatever.

Gifts are acceptable, but they should reflect the Schengen-Day theme. For instance, this year John sent me a traditional Chinese-style dress and nightgown, which could represent a trip to China. Also, one of the packages had to be picked up from a postal center, which involved a journey by train and by foot through 2-feet-deep snow in the dark hours of the (very cold!) day, again representative of a trip somewhere.

There is no need for Schengen Day celebrators to give up Valentine's day if they are particularly attached to it, or if they know people who are (including small children, etc). Chocolate, for example, is a big Valentine's Day element, and I'd certainly not want to speak against it. :o) In many ways, Schengen Day and Valentine's day can go hand-in-hand. (Just be careful it's a Schengen Day trip you're going on, and not a glorified Valentine's day celebration.)