Valentine's Day

2024 - 2 - 14

Valentine's Day Traditions in Kenya: From Flowers to Lovebugs

climate change - Kenya - Nairobi - sustainability - Valentine's Day

Discover how Valentine's Day celebrations in Kenya have evolved from traditional gift-giving to self-love and sustainability concerns.

Valentine's Day in Kenya has shifted from the conventional exchange of chocolates and flowers to a broader celebration of love in various forms. The Grimsby Community Recycling Centre in Nairobi is adorned with red hearts and love-themed decorations, spreading a whimsical atmosphere to mark the day. While some view Valentine's Day as a time of loneliness for unloved individuals, others like florist Mercy Kirira at the City Market see a surge in demand for flowers, indicating a bustling day ahead.

Nairobi-based hawker John Kiarie anticipates increased sales on Valentine's Day, reflecting a rising demand for ready-made bouquets over single-variety cut flowers. However, concerns about the environmental impact of flower cultivation also emerge, with a call to avoid unnecessary waste and unsustainable practices. Flower farmers in Naivasha face threats from climate change, highlighting the need for sustainable approaches in the industry.

Despite the commercialization of Valentine's Day, some individuals find joy in celebrating lasting love milestones, such as a Bend couple and their extended family celebrating 60 years of marriage on this occasion. The holiday's capitalist grip is evident in the excessive consumerism surrounding it, raising questions about the true essence of love and meaningful celebrations. Overall, Valentine's Day in Kenya encompasses a blend of love, tradition, environmental awareness, and personal reflections.

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Image courtesy of "Citizen Digital"

How Valentines Day traditions in Kenya have changed (Citizen Digital)

Valentine's Day is here, most people associate the day with love and expressions of love through gifting chocolates, cards and flowers to their significant ...

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Image courtesy of "North East Lincolnshire Council"

Love is in the air as Valentine's Day comes to the tip | NELC (North East Lincolnshire Council)

A loving chef, lovebug and numerous red hearts can be seen around Grimsby Community Recycling Centre as they get in the mood for Valentine's Day.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Nation"

Valentine's Day, lonely women and stingy men (Daily Nation)

Those that are not loved need not get themselves into depression, let them find love and just be happy.

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Image courtesy of "The Star, Kenya"

[PHOTOS] City market blooms to romantic transformation for ... (The Star, Kenya)

Specialized sections or stalls were likely set up outside the market, adorned with romantic decorations and themed displays. Flower bouquets, arrangements, and ...

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Image courtesy of "Capital FM Kenya"

Flower vendors make killing ahead of Valentine's Day tomorrow (Capital FM Kenya)

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 13 - Mercy Kirira, a florist at the City Market, is hopeful for a busy day ahead of Valentine's Day, as she is experiencing a surge in ...

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Image courtesy of "Nairobi News"

Valentine's Day tale: Blooming business and self-love in Nairobi (Nairobi News)

John Kiarie, a Nairobi-based hawker, eagerly anticipates the bustling Valentine.

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Image courtesy of "The Standard"

Rising demand for bouquets as Kenyans mark Valentine's Day (The Standard)

Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPCK) has noted a growing demand for ready bouquets by international markets as opposed to single-variety cut flowers.

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Opinion | Please, Don't Buy Flowers for Valentine's Day (The New York Times)

But have you considered the environmental impact of those flowers? In this audio essay, the contributing Opinion writer Margaret Renkl explains the true cost of ...

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Image courtesy of "Daily Nation"

Valentine's Day: How climate change could deny you roses (Daily Nation)

In Naivasha, where most flower farms are located, their only threat could be water scarcity for irrigation, but that has yet to affect them. The farmers are now ...

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Image courtesy of "Team Jumbo-Visma"

Valentine's Day promotion: win a Dynamic Bike Valentine's bundle! (Team Jumbo-Visma)

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Image courtesy of "The Star, Kenya"

Climate change threatens Valentine's Day rose— report (The Star, Kenya)

Nearly 60% of all exported roses come from five countries in the global south that face growing dangers from extreme weather.

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Image courtesy of "Food Tank"

Celebrating a Sustainable, Plastic-Free Valentines Day – Food Tank (Food Tank)

The short clips highlights strategies to avoid waste including shopping for vegetables from a local farmers market and opting for shelf stable ingredients ...

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Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

Happy Valentine's Day from the most contented single woman you'll ... (Los Angeles Times)

Bouquets of roses prepped for Valentine's Day in 2021 at the Los Angeles Flower Mart. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times ). By Robin AbcarianColumnist.

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Image courtesy of "nation.co.ke"

Why this Valentine's Day was not a bed of roses for Kisumu residents (nation.co.ke)

Hard economic times dampened the spirit of an occasion that was meant to be a day of love.

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Image courtesy of "Miami Student"

Make it make sense: Valentine's Day in the U.S. is a vile experience (Miami Student)

Last weekend, I went flower shopping at Kroger. Walking through the store, I couldn't help but notice the section dedicated to Valentine's Day.

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Image courtesy of "Coveteur"

Does Valentine's Day Matter? (Coveteur)

Contributing Writer, Kelsey Eisen, asked around to see if this Hallmark holiday is actually worth celebrating. Who better than to ask than a couple in-house ...

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Image courtesy of "KTVZ"

Bend couple reach a Valentine's Day milestone worth noting: their ... (KTVZ)

(KTVZ) -- A Bend couple, Johnny Mack and Martha Sue Gulley, celebrated 60 years of marriage on Valentine's Day, as did their four daughters and 25 grandchildren ...

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Image courtesy of "Vermont Cynic"

Let's rekindle our love for Valentine's Day (Vermont Cynic)

Every February—irregardless of my relationship status—I look forward to Valentine's Day. To me, Valentine's is not just one day, but a way of life for the ...

The Price of Love: Capitalism's Grip on Valentine's Day (Harvard Crimson)

One trip to the Harvard Square CVS at this time of year will reveal that Valentine's Day, like most other holidays, has grown incredibly commercialized, ...

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