Why is Valentine’s day a bit different this year?
Some of us love Valentine’s day and every year look forward towards making our loved ones happy. The origin of this beautiful holiday is attested in the nineteenth century in Britain, where the day of Valentine’s Day (February 14th) was honored as a celebration of lovers because it was thought that the birds chose this day to mate. This festival then spread across the globe and is widely celebrated by many of us nowadays.
This event is now more closely associated with the mutual exchange of “sweet notes” or valentines with symbols such as a winged heart or Cupid.
Valentine’s Day customs such as sending greeting cards, offering confectionery and presenting flowers developed at the beginning of modern England and spread to the English-speaking world in the 19th century. Towards the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, these customs spread to other countries.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world and customs may vary by culture.
This year, Valentine’s Day will be very different from the others. We will not necessarily be with our partner or it will be impossible for us to celebrate it elsewhere than at home. It will be different for sure but nothing prevents us from spending a great evening around a candlelight dinner at home or take a trip somewhere from the comfort of our couch. How can you do that? Read further and you will find out.
1. Try Foreign Cuisine
Okay, so we know this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration at the restaurant is going to be complicated, so it’s time to start thinking about the menu for this Sunday.
Why not dine French cuisine with a good red wine to feel like in Paris? Or else, prepare antipasti and drink Spritz to imagine yourself in Venice?
And given the situation, why don’t you two make dinner together? It would be a nice activity for Sunday afternoon where you can collaborate with your loved one and spend some precious time together.
We invite you to try making French cuisine at home, perhaps give Italian cuisine a chance and make your loved one feel like they’re in Rome or try something else right here.
2. Immerse Yourself in Music
Another very important factor during Valentine’s Day dinner is the music. Yes, it can change the atmosphere of the entire evening and it can also easily take you and your loved one all across the world. Today, there is nothing easier to find than foreign music. You can easily put a playlist from any country around the world thanks to a streaming service like Spotify or Youtube, you can even take the time to make your own playlist according to your tastes and that of your partner. Take your partner to South America with a romantic Spanish music mix, or all the way to India with a nice Bollywood playlist.
For those who have Spotify, Deezer or Apple music, here are playlists in the theme of the evening. You can find them by looking for «love» playlists, «Valentine’day».
3. Try VR – Check out Virtual tours online
The Covid pandemic has temporarily taken away from us one of the things we love the most: traveling the world with our loved ones. We are sure that you would have preferred spending this Valentine’s day walking hand in hand down the Champs Elysées in Paris, or in a beautiful chalet in the Alps but… we might have an awesome solution!
Are you a travel lover and you still want to secure your Valentine’s getaway even during COVID-19?
Well, thanks to technology, it is now possible to travel everywhere in the world, staying comfortably seated in your living room. How? Through Virtual Reality (VR) technology and 360-degree videography. Thanks to continuous technological advances, nowadays it is possible to purchase a VR for way less than 100 dollars. Incredible! All you have to do is download the required app, wear the headset, and enjoy your tour with your beloved (it can also be a lovely Valentine’s day gift)
Here are some of the best VR experiences you can do for Valentine’s day:
VR National Parks
For wildlife enthusiasts, the luxury tour operator andBeyond offers unique VR experiences such as private zoom sessions where customers can live chat with the guide and watch South African reserve’s animals. The booking fee will be donated to the Africa Foundation for sustainability and conservation campaigns.
Another way to watch the African wildlife is by visiting explore.org, which offers safari live streams.
If you wish to visit U.S. most famous national parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, or Everglades with 360-degree videos, you can use Google Earth VR services.
Finally, on Google Arts, you can also experience a fantastic journey through 5 National parks such as Kenai Fjords, Hawai’i volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas.
VR sightseeing Tours
Missing wandering around the most famous spots in the world? Several metropolitan cities, from London to New York, are offering fully virtual tours around their well-known areas. Above all, Paris is offering numerous guided virtual visits around its attractions such as the Louvre museum and the Opéra de Paris.
Considered by many the best virtual attraction of the world, Machu Picchu is the best place to visit with your sweet half. With a 360 degree view, you can discover every corner of this magical heritage site, just as you were there!
Last but not least, If you want to discover Japan, with VR you have the possibility to view the city of Tokyo in just 3 minutes!
VR Theater Performances
Have you finished the entire Netflix catalogue and you don’t know what to invent?For those who are missing out on theater performances, London’s Globe Theater and the Royal Opera house are offering streaming VR spectacles.
For watching more, please visit the Opera Vision website and the Metropolitan
Will the VR experience be the same as in real life? We are perfectly aware that, at least for now, Virtual Reality is not anywhere near to hop on a plane and getaway for a Valentine’s weekend. However, since the current situation is largely preventing us from doing that, Why not give VR a try?
4. For art lovers – have a virtual tour of a museum online
If you are an art lover, do not worry, many services are available to you, you will be able to satisfy your thirst for knowledge.
So yes, it is not the same as a visit to a real visit to a museum, but it is still amazing, you can enjoy from your sofa collections and works that you may not have seen in real life but always wanted to see.
Boulevard
Boulevard is the leading developer of virtual artistic experiences. Thanks to their application you can visit museums in Virtual Reality, explore many works in augmented reality and combine the two to virtually arrange your home with your favorite works. You can look here for more information on their service.
Tate
Maybe you already know Tate, it’s an organization that has 5 very popular galleries, 1 of which is online. By visiting their website, you can access online events, visit galleries and some even for free. You just need to think about registering to participate in exhibitions and events.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is a service launched by Google in February 2011, allowing visitors to virtually visit different museums and to view works in high definition.
The Tech giant has enabled 32,000 works of art from 151 different museums and locations to be digitized in 3D using Street View technology. Museums include the MoMA, the Van Gogh Museum, the Tate Britain, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum and the Gemäldegalerie.
And recently, Google Art has put online the biggest exhibition dedicated to Frida Kahlo entitled “Face of Frida”.
Plan your ultimate trip with your loved one (for when the pandemic is over)
There is nothing wrong with taking some time to dream together. Research says that the best thing about a trip is often the planning and anticipation of that trip. Why not feel a bit optimistic and plan your future trip with your loved one?
Tips on planning a romantic trip together:
- Choose a warm climate – nothing kills romance as well as the cold weather.
- If you choose the cold – choose comfort. If you happen to choose a cold destination, make sure to have a car available and don’t compromise on your comfort – you do not want the AC dying in the middle of a cold night.
- Stay away from clichés (unless you like that) – maybe try something other than Paris this year?
- Or… go for the cliché! You know your partner best – if Paris is what they want, choose Paris.
- Learn to compromise – nothing ruins a romantic trip as well as stubbornness. You want to go to Paris but your partner wants Rome? Maybe give them what they want this time and see how much easier it all becomes.
- Choose the quick flight! Maybe it is a bit more expensive but you don’t want the endless transfers and waiting time to ruin the romance, do you? Check out our tips on finding a cheap flight here.
- Pledge to disconnect – leave those phones aside and spend time together, with no distractions!
- Don’t be shy on the romance – saying a few nice words to one another can go a long way in making a trip unforgettable!
Bonus: Long Distance relationships
This year was particularly complicated also for long distance relationships. We are tired of talking about Covid-19 and restrictions, so we’ll let you guess the reasons why it was difficult to go from a country to another to meet your beloved.
Valentine’s day is still Valentine’s day, so we have to celebrate, right?
If you won’t have the chance of spending this day with your partner, do not despair! We have made a list of little things that may help you enjoy the most romantic moment of the year.
All you need is love…and a webcam
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Dress up
Prepare yourself as you are going on your first date, it will help you to get in the mood of the night, and will be perceived positively by the other person. So Get Ready (and check the Wi-fi)!
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The entrance
Both of you know that this is not the night of your dreams, but make the effort and try to let it be! Remember to buy everything you need, including a nice bottle of wine and something to make the atmosphere more romantic. Welcome your loved one with a smile to start the dinner on the right note.
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The dinner
This will be the main event of the night, so don’t waste it! Prepare yourself a magnificent meal, and if you want to spice things up challenge your partner to a cooking competition worthy of Masterchef – who can make the best looking meal? Then, enjoy your meal with your sweetheart from a distance.
To conclude a magical night, enjoy the last glass of wine, and don’t forget that soon you’ll meet again!
Happy Valentine’s day from LuggageHero <3