PHNOM PENH: Valentine’s Day began with Saint Valentine who was rumored to secretly marry couples from Rome, Italy, but it has now become a day to celebrate love around the world. Cambodia has begun celebrating Valentine’s day in the past few years with growing enthusiasm, whether with family, friends, or loved ones.
EAC News conducted interviews with individuals living in Phnom Penh to see the different ways people were celebrating this special day of love.
Teacher Michael of the Australian Centre for Education (ACE) in the Toul Tom Poung area shares how his local students in the high school to college age range celebrate Valentines day in Cambodia.
"I kind of have a different perspective on this because, everybody knows ACE school and (how) we have a variety of international students as well as Khmer students, so there is a big integration here of different nationalities so, that’s a really cool perspective because here at ACE, students celebrate almost just as they would back in the states with cards, candies, chocolates and sometimes I get stuffed animals," he shared.
Teacher Michael added that he will personally celebrate this Valentines day with a special someone who is revered as the most famous in Cambodia because his current partner isn't based in the country.
“My partner is in Malaysia, and Malaysia is finally opening back up to tourists and to visitors on March 1st, so until then, I’ll be celebrating with my side chick named Shirley (a cat). Not only is she a cat, she is the most famous cat in Cambodia," he said.
Many businesses use this day to increase sales of candy, chocolate, stuffed animals and flowers. Bun Chendara, an entrepreneur, created an online paper flower shop to capitalize on this celebration.
Dara, originally a barber apprentice from Ta Keo province, found his passion in flower-making and understood that this was something he was good at and could make easy money from.
“For Valentine’s Day, the day I sell the flowers [in person], I don’t sell only for lovers but these flowers can be for parents, friends, or relatives as well,” he said.
In the past, Dara traveled to his hometown to shower his parents with gifts, give them clothes, and eat delicious food during this holiday. These past two years, however, he has been busy with his flower business and unable visit home in person. Instead, he has been sending his parents money.
Currently, Dara sells his flowers through his Facebook page “Dara Nice” and through Telegram (010 996 486). He will showcase his flowers in person on 14 February 2022, at Olympia Mall and on the Diamond Island rainbow bridge area.
Another Paper flower seller, Pan Sophal, says she pours her heart out into the paper flowers she makes. “They are affordable and I put my heart into making them." she exclaimed.
Ordinary Flower sellers such as Makara told us that customers buying the flowers range from all ages. “Our customers’ ages range from students, teenagers to senior citizens. Most of them who order buy it for their special someone," he said.
Teppi, another flower seller, says her customers buy flowers for their peers and coworkers. “Mostly workers and students buy them and give [flowers] to their teachers, coworkers or bosses.”
