Valentine's Day Tiger

Valentine's Day in 2010 falls as ever on February the 14th.

In 2010 however it is extra special because the 14th of February is the start of the Chinese New Year.

The Year of the Tiger.

The origins of Valentine's day are said to go back to ancient Rome when a Christian Martyr was reputedly put to death on February the 14th. He supposedly wrote a token of affection note before he died which he signed 'From Your Valentine'.

Fiction perhaps, but it is a nice story, and there are many of them. Some say the celebration goes back further to the Pagan festival of Lupercalia which was renowned for its sexual debauchery. Whatever of the many stories you may believe we do know from archaeological evidence that St. Valentine definitely existed.

Today Valentine's day has no religious significance and is celebrated right around the world by people of all nations. Though the day is so very much commercialised it is none the less a special day and one on which lovers can let the one they love know just how they feel. So popular is Valentine's Day that 25% of all the cards sent each year in the USA are Valentines. Be sure you don't forget.

January 26, 1914 to February 13 1915

February 13, 1926 to February 1 1927

January 31, 1938 to February 18 1939

February 17, 1950 to February 05 1951

February 05, 1962 to January 24 1963

January 23, 1974 to February 10 1975

February 09, 1986 to January 28 1987

January 28, 1998 to February 15 1999

February 14, 2010 to February 02, 2011

The Year of The Tiger is one of a series of animal years that work through a 12 year cycle on the Chinese Zodiac. Each of the animal years is associated with an element, so we have Water Tiger, Wood Tiger, Fire Tiger, Earth Tiger and Metal Tiger. 2010 is Metal Tiger. The last Metal Tiger year was back in 1950.

People born within a Tiger year are believed to be born with a set of personal characteristics which reflect the personality of the animal. These are believed to be Friendliness, Resilience, Vanity, Hopefulness, Courage, Honesty,Tender, Loving, Self Reliance and Disregard.

These are added to by the elements associated with the symbols which give assertiveness and competiveness as well as a possibility of mood swings and temper tantrums. The Tiger is not best when connected with metal as it prefers the more natural elements like Wood, Earth and Water.

As a Chinese New Year gift, something metal would be appropriate. In this special Valentine's Tiger Year metal would be appropriate too. The type of metal does not matter too much, (what colour is money?) but already the year is being called the Year of the Golden Tiger. Equally the colour representing metal in Chinese is White and so others are calling 2010 as the Year of the White Tiger. The White Tiger is connected to the symbol 'jinx' 掃把星 and may be considered by some Chinese to be an unlucky year.

The Western equivalent of this year of the Tiger is Aquarius.

Why not adopt a tiger as a very special gift to your lover this Valentine's Day? Tigers are in trouble. They may actually become extinct in the wild during your lifetime. Adopt a zoo tiger, one in an official breeding programme so definitely not a white tiger. Approach you local zoo and ask or check on the internet. Most zoos today have some sort of adoption programme. You will usually get a plaque on the enclosure and a regular newsletter about your animal. Please be sure that your tiger is in a studbook and part of an official breeding programme! If it is not then it is doing harm to tigers everywhere. In effect it is Tiger Farming.

Tigers are beautiful creatures and are much in need of help. Whether you were born in the year of the Tiger or not an adoption makes a thoughtful and interesting gift which will be long rememembered.

Do not get involved with a 'get your photo taken with a Tiger' session. Tigers should be reared by their mothers and not cruelly and unnecessarily pulled from their mothers and reared on the bottle so people can have their photo's taken with them.

As a celebration of the Year of the Tiger there are some countries issuing special Tiger coins. Singapore and Australia are just two. A mint Tiger coin could make a great gift, after all this IS metal Tiger year.

Tiger Print is likelty to be a fashion item for some in the Year of the Tiger starting on the fourteenth of February 2010.

Every Girl loves Roses...the symbol of love. But what about doing something different this Valentine's day? It is the start of the Year of the Tiger after all. What about Tiger Lilies?

A subscription to your favorite magazine is always a great gift. Not forgetting that Hugh Hefner was born in the Year of the Tiger. Way way back.

 February 14th, Valentine's Day, the start of the Year of the Tiger is also National Condom Day!

Whatever you do this Valentine's Day enjoy yourself. Don't take life too seriously. Send your lover one card which he/she will know is from you. Then send two cards anonymously. Get them posted from another country or a hundred or so miles away. As long as you don't admit to sending them they will not forget the day for months and keep them happily puzzled.

How to post from a hundred miles away? - Stand at the back of a big supermarket and hand the stamped card to a delivery driver along with a little cash. Ask if the driver will post it for you. Everyone is a romantic at heart.

Or put the Valentine card envelope in another envelope and address it to the post master in Anchorage, Toronto or London or Aberdeen. Providing you send postage they will post it for you. Or ask a friendly member of the cabin crew at your airport.

A Tip - Mark your mystery cards in some small and mysterious way. For instance cut three heart shapes out of the back. Put these small pieces in an envelope and hide them in the back of your sock or knicker drawer. You don't have to give them to him or her but you may need to. After a year or so you could just dispose of them but, there just may be a day when you need to prove that it was you who sent the card from Toronto ;-)