Valentine's week starts with Rose Day

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 7: Valentine’s Day is celebrated every February 14. The weeklong Valentine's Day festivities begin on February 7, starting with Rose Day.

Although Valentine’s Day is not originally a part of Nepali culture, it has become increasingly popular among teenagers in Nepali society, and they now celebrate it as part of Nepali culture. As Nepal embraces global trends in fashion, culture, and social media, Valentine's week has become a highly anticipated event.

Couples give roses to each other to express their love and feelings. Rose Day is not only for couples; it is also a symbol of friendship, harmony, and peace. It teaches us that even small gestures can strengthen relationships.

There is no official information about the origin of Rose Day, but it is linked to Europe’s medieval love traditions. It is said that during that time, lovers expressed their love and feelings by giving flowers to their girlfriends along with love letters. Since then, Valentine’s Week gradually originated in Western countries.

Each color of rose has a unique significance and represents different emotions. Red roses symbolise true love, white roses represent peace and new beginnings, yellow roses signify friendship and happiness, pink roses convey gratitude and appreciation, and orange roses represent zeal, enthusiasm, and attraction.

Over the years, Valentine’s Day and the weekend have gradually become a special occasion for couples and people in love across Nepal, with shops selling heart-shaped cuddly toys, cupids, photo frames, cards, and flowers.

With the beginning of Valentine’s Week, the sale of roses has soared at several flower shops in the Kathmandu Valley and other districts. Roses are among the best-selling flowers in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. Flower traders estimate that around 450,000 stems of roses will be in demand during Valentine’s Week.

According to the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), of the total demand for roses, 70 per cent will be imported from Delhi, India, while domestic production meets the remaining 30 percent. Of the total demand, 60 per cent or 270,000 stems will be consumed in the Kathmandu Valley. The remaining 40 per cent (180,000 stems) is estimated to be consumed in cities including Pokhara, Dharan, Chitwan, and Biratnagar. On a normal day, the daily demand for roses in Nepal ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 stems.

Before Valentine’s Day, each day of the week is marked with a different celebration—Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day, and Kiss Day.

The demand for roses and imports is higher ahead of Valentine’s Day than at other times. The demand for roses is expected to increase this year compared to the previous year. With the rising demand, FAN is importing 70 percent of the required roses for this year’s Valentine’s Week.

The price per stem in the market is expected to range between Rs. 100 and Rs. 150 this year. Due to dependence on imported roses and the increase in international market prices, consumers will have to pay slightly more this year. According to FAN, the consumer price per rose stem is expected to reach Rs. 100–150 this year, compared to Rs. 90–120 last year.

Commercial rose farming is carried out in three districts: Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, and Kavrepalanchowk. It is estimated that commercial transactions worth around Rs. 56.2 million will occur during Valentine’s Week, according to FAN. Of the total transactions, approximately Rs. 39.34 million worth of imported (Indian) roses will be traded.