Spring-series VI.

Springtime ignites a whole new attitude in city dwellers. The heavy layers shed, the Frisbees start flying, and a state of happiness sets in. With sunny weather comes happy days.

Even when it rains outside, we’ve got some idea what to do indoors. Let’s start with something gracious, something very english – a required reading for day-dreamers:

Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is one of the best-loved novels of all time and today, it's more popular than ever.

When the wealthy and very eligible bachelor Charles Bingley purchases an estate in the Bennets' small town, he and the beautiful Jane immediately fall in love. 

But Bingley's arrogant friend Darcy just as quickly alienates Lizzy when she overhears him speaking dismissively of her.
These first impressions have lasting repercussions for Jane, Elizabeth, and their whole family.

Rich in wit and wisdom, humor and humanity, Pride and Prejudice takes a probing, entertaining look at the nature of love, money, and power in Georgian England.

“A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”                                    Jane Austen

Valentine’s Day

Saint Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world on the 14th February each year.

Folk traditions

While the custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated, Valentine's Day still remains connected with various regional customs.

In Norfolk, a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person.

In Slovenia, Saint Valentine or ’Zdravko’ was one of the saints of spring, the saint of good health and the patron of beekeepers and pilgrims. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on Valentine’s day.

In South Korea women give chocolate to men on the 14th February, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on the 14th March (White Day). On the 14th April (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th February or March go to a Korean restaurant to eat black and "mourn" their single life.

Legend or history?

A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell.