Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us and is often celebrated with grand gestures of flowers, chocolates, and fancy dinners.
While the day doesn’t have roots in Greek culture or the Orthodox tradition, its meaning has been amplified through commercialism and the day’s celebration of love is what most people resonate with. And besides, who doesn’t love receiving a bouquet of flowers?
The Greek Herald spoke with Greek Australian couples to hear their love stories and learn how their bonds have strengthened over time.
Greek Australian Natasha Vincent was a high school sweetheart with her now husband Jacob. They have been together for 15 years and have been married for three. Tash says they are “happily settled down with their fur daughter, Olive.”
Attending the same high school, Tash and Jacob ended up in a science class together.
“We bonded over the same taste in TV shows and a shared sense of humour,” Tash said. “After about a year, we’d become close friends and eventually started dating at the end of Year 11, when we were 16.”
Their Valentine’s Day celebrations are simple and relaxed. Tash said, “Jacob might get me flowers, and we’ll keep it low key and go out for a burger together. It started when we were young and poor and wanted to explore Melbourne’s booming 2010 burger scene and has become something we now do most years.”
Another couple I spoke with were my own parents, John and Effie. Growing up I often heard the story of how they first met, and I feel it reflects the experience of many couples of their generation. Now in their 60s, my parents met in 1987 at a Greek Community of Melbourne end of year dinner dance.
“It was meant to be right from the start,” Effie told The Greek Herald. “There was no question, I knew from the first couple of times that we went out that it felt so familiar and so right to be together.”
Neither of them were planning to attend the dance that night. Effie said, “I had to force my sister to come along with me because I didn’t want to go on my own. I was prepared not to go at all.”
John recalled that he nearly stayed home as well. “The parea I was with kept talking about the dance, but they had already left and I was at home just sitting there and I thought ‘I might as well go.’ So, I went later than everyone and there was one chair right at the back and it just happened to be the seat behind Effie,” he said.
They danced that night before going to coffee with friends at The Whitehouse in Carlton.
“That’s when I asked Effie for her phone number,” John said.
“I normally never gave phone numbers to anybody,” Effie added, “but I felt safe with John – he looked decent and honest.”
John and Effie married in 1989 and had three daughters and now have one granddaughter. After 39 years together they shared their insight into what makes a relationship last.
Their marriage journey was all about learning.
“We were both different people learning to be together and to understand each other,” Effie said. “Now after all these years we know each other inside out. It’s all about communication and listening to each other.”
John agreed, explaining that the early years required adjustment.
“You go from being on your own and only having to worry about what you’re doing to having a partner and dealing with life together and making decisions together,” he said. “It’s been the best 39 years. After all these years, we still love and respect each other so much.”
“Your love grows as the years go by,” Effie added. “Your commitment grows and you grow together.”
When asked about Valentine’s Day, Effie remarked that they don’t place much importance on the occasion.
“Every day is like Valentine’s Day, caring for each other, doing the right thing for each other,” she said. “John just brings flowers randomly. We don’t need Valentine’s Day to do these things.”
Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration of romantic love, but also an opportunity to appreciate love through friendship and family. This February 14, take a moment to tell and show those you love just how much they mean to you.
