Long-distance love: Tips on how to celebrate Valentine's Day

RELATIONSHIPS

KAMPALA - Valentine's Day is an annual festival which is celebrated on February 14 through romantic love, friendship, and admiration.

Valentine's Day is notable because of the bond it conveys to partners, families, and friends through sharing adorable messages, outings and gift exchange, among others.

However, can Valentine's Day be celebrated by couples in long-distance relationships?

Counsellors advise that it is possible to celebrate Valentine's Day while in long-distance relationships.

Crescent Mwebaze, a relationship counsellor says presence can be felt through communication, which can be done through sending messages, video chatting and singing memorable songs to one another.

Mwebaze adds that they can take pictures of different poses and scenery and send them to each other.

"Both of you can cook your own best meals and set them up in front of your camera to have a virtual dinner date. Being physically apart does not mean that there's no adoration for each other," says Mwebaze.

Mwebaze, however, advises couples to take themselves out when they have physically met.

Alternatively, Phionah Namuddu, a relationship counsellor advises couples engaged in long-distance relationships to surprise their loved ones when they meet by spending quality time together.

For example, Namuddu says this can be through watching movies or comedy shows together. 

"This will create lasting memories for many years even when they are not physically together, the absence will not be felt because of the memories they still have for one another," advises Namuddu.

Namuddu suggests that Valentines' Day should be continuous affair for the person you adore and not celebrated once in a year.