Valentine’s Day

Learn all about Valentine's Day

Also Appears In: Culture Class: Holidays in Kenya Throwback Thursday

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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Kenya Series at SwahiliPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Kenyan holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 5, Valentine’s Day. In Swahili, it’s called Sikukuu ya wapendanao.

Valentine's Day is celebrated practically all over the world, and of course, this includes Kenya! Like the rest of the world, it is traditionally recognized on February 14. This lesson will highlight how Kenyans celebrate this day.

Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question-

Do you know how much chocolate is sold on Valentine’s Day in Kenya?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

On the eve of Valentine's Day, people prepare and buy different gifts to give to those they love. Businesses benefit a lot from this tradition as people spend extravagantly in order to please their lovers, or wapendanao.

When Valentine's Day comes, lovers typically send short romantic messages, or ujumbe wa kimapenzi, to each other on their phones or other means of technology, like computers. And of course, there are countless women who receive roses from their boyfriends.

In the evening, men invite their girlfriends out for dinner. The ladies, usually in evening dresses, meet their boyfriends who are also smartly dressed. The two eat together and exchange gifts. Each of them expects their lovers to show a high degree of thoughtfulness and appreciation in selecting their gifts.

Red being the color for love, for this one day Kenya becomes awash in red decorations.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question-

Do you know how much chocolate is sold on Valentine’s Day in Kenya?

Thirty-five million pieces of heart-shaped chocolate, or chokoleti umbo wa moyo, are sold on this day. The total value of chocolate purchased on this day alone is over one billion.