What happened to good old Valentine's Day?

Feb 14, 2020

There is no frenzied shopping, no major promos and even those who had stocked on the mass-produced Chinese plastic flowers are still yawning with hours ticking by.

BY Paul Waiswa

It is Valentine's Day, but you might excuse Ugandans for missing on the romantic memo. Only a few flowers sent and apart from the Bobi wine red berets, fewer people are donning the traditional red and black.

There is no frenzied shopping, no major promos and even those who had stocked on the mass-produced Chinese plastic flowers are still yawning with hours ticking by.

I asked a female friend at work whether she had received flowers yet and her response startled me: "The Lord is my Shepherd," she said.

bonies entertaining guests on alentines ay in 2010

Ebonies entertaining guests on Valentine's Day in 2010

Her curt response formed my opinion. The good old Valentine's Day of the early 2000's is dead. Remember when Pastor Peter Ssematimba was a Radio Ssenga, offering love tips?

The city was a sea of red and black and from the high-end offices to the slums of Bwaise, it was the uniform. Florists were busy and work receptions were full of expectant, excited and dejected lovers.

It was on Valentine's Day that many people knew whether they were the illegal connection the main meter in relationships.

ose hameleon and aniella tim friend at aze2 during alentines ay in 2005

Jose Chameleon and Daniella Atim friend at Faze2 during Valentine's Day in 2005

Today, millennials seem not to have a clue. They are using up their time on social media to lament or celebrate their single status. Ask anyone about Valentine's Day and the responses are likely to be cynical.

Publicly, many individuals I know frown upon the idea of publicly celebrating Valentine's.

Bebe Cool and Zuena at Blue Africa during Valentine's Day in 2005

The red dress screams desperation in the minds of men. Increasingly, many people feel that the day is too commercialised, especially in these hard economic times when flashing money is for a select few like Catherine Kusasiira.

But privately, many women will be expecting their men to do something today. Better still it is a Friday and the plot is mob, so to speak. The concerts are in plenty, with in a kissing distance of each other.

Gaetano Kaggwa and a friend having fun on Valentine's Day in 2005.

From comedian Idringi's Africa Laughs, to Rema and Rude Boy's concerts, there is plot. Shall we see queues of hen-pecked lovers heading to these venues to celebrate love? Good luck to the organisers but there is too much negativity spewing on these streets.

We all know that the guy's end of Valentine's Day is always bigger than the ladies. It is a holiday wrapped around making the women in our lives happy with gifts and tokens of our affection. It is the one day a year that every guy has to remember and do right or he will pay for it for the next 365 days.

he yakanas at lue frica during alentines ay

The Nyakanas at Blue Africa during Valentine's Day

Some men have chosen to forget about the day. Even with the resultant penalties. No cards, no dressing to impress, no flowers, no driving to a mysterious destination to act lovey-dovey.

Although Valentine's Day has been around for centuries, it seems to have lost its sizzle as many people see it as more of a commercial holiday, a way for businesses to make a buck. It is a day for vendors and not lovers.