[11 September 2005] By Abdul-Salam Al-Korary.

Yemeni society did not use to hear about the Valentine for it is an occasion confined to the Christian peoples. Recently, a tiny segment of younger generation in the main cities started to celebrate the occasion and to grow a custom with the tradition.

The occasion is still unknown to the largest portion of population in Yemen, let alone to be given a bit attention. Hence, the majority of the citizens are against this tradition as an alien habit to our society. The Valentine was not known in Yemen before the revolution in the domain of telecom and information technology. Particularly , the satalitte channels.

The two secondary schools girls, Sohair and Naglah said that they have kept on celebrating the valentine day since four years as a day of love. They used to exchange presents with friends and beloved." It is a lovely occasion in our life to exchange roses, flowers and presents as well as wear a red clothes as an expression of love". Said Naglah.

On the other hand, many other girls described the occasion as nonsense and strange in the life of Yemeni people. So, to celebrate it is something of western imitation incompatible with our Islamic traditions.

Miss Maissa, who had finished her secondary education, said that she celebrates the Valentine along with her girl friends though she views that as a waste of time and a kind of imitation. However, Sarah who is a school girl said that Valentine was of much significance for her when she used to celebrate the occasion together with her classmates." It was fantastic that all of us being ddressed in red and exchange roses with colleagues". After that her family had come to know about her behavior and she had received a beat from her mother who had forbidden the occasion.

Both Nabeel and Sultan expressed their rejection to the notion of celebrating the Valentine in Yemen whose religion is Islam and the country is devoid of any Christian minority. Thereupon, it is so silly to talk about such occasion. The two young guys slashed out the Yemeni youths who celebrate the occasion and described such behavior as an attempt to imitate the western culture.

Salim Abdullah is a- 38 government officer had agreed with Nabeel and Sultan. He voiced his surprise how Muslim youngsters forget Islamic occasions whereas they are trying to mark the Valentine's day. " Last week I met with a young guy of my neighbors and extended him congratulation on the new year of Hegira , he ironically inquired about the occasion. Two days ago, I met him along with his friends while they were making the arrangements to celebrate the Valentine". Said Salim.

Abdul-Wadood is a- 26 university student he said that celebrating the Valentine is neither forbidden nor wrongness. It is an occasion to bring about love and happiness.

Miss Nawal is a- 29 an airline employee. She does not see celebrating the Valentine as something incompatible with Islam." Islam is a religion of friendliness and love , it always urges Muslims to make all their life times an occasion for love. She said.
Nawal had confirmed that since a couple of years she has become very keen to celebrate the Valentine, in spite of this caused her some problem with her elder sister who thinks that the celebration is impermissible.


The Valentine used to be a profitable occasion for roses and flowers sellers. Abdul- Osaby is running a small shop of flowers. He said that he usually seeks for flowers sources before February to insure providing his shop with the various kinds so as to meet the increasing demand on this occasion.

The prices of roses and flowers used to go up on the Valentine day. Some roses valued up to 500 and 600 Yemeni rials ( 3.5 $US )dollar. Al-Osaby added that he received many reservation requests from a number of university students who ordered Bouquets of roses for the Valentine's day. Thereby, flowers and roses often imported from Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Particularly, those types which are rare in Yemen.

The prices of the presents which used to be exchanged on the Valentines depend on the kind of the present. Some of the presents their cost reach up to $200 and $300 us dollar. Said Abdul-Malik who owners a shop of antiquities and presents.
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Both Al-Osaby and Abdul-Malik affirmed that the largest number of their customers on the day of love( Valentine) are young women and youngsters.

There is a controversial story about the Valentine day which meets the 14th of February. The tale dates back to the year (270) A.D. and attributed to the Saint Valentine who said to be killed because he had given the permission to the Roman soldiers to get merry , even though the Roman Emperor had forbidden that. When it turned out that Saint Valentine used to arrange the marriage rites secretly, the emperor had ordered to be executed.

During the Victorian reign the occasion turned into a public festival and Queen Victoria used to send dozens cards to dynasty the relatives and friends of the ruling dynasty.
Saba