Valentine’s Day falls on Chinese New Year this year and I’m pretty sure most Chinese will be celebrating the occasion early. Hence, I wish everyone an early Happy Valentine’s Day! I read from the Chinese newspapers that there wouldn’t be any flower delivery service on the 14th of February since most shops will be closed during Chinese New Year. Chewy and I have no plans yet. We will most probably just have a simple dinner since he will only be free during the evenings1.
Panda Valentine's Day Wallpaper (656.4 KiB, 185 hits)
I made the wallpaper above during one of my study breaks. These wallpapers can be found in the resources section and if you want to send some love over during Valentine’s, you can buy the prints over at deviantART. 
While working on the wallpaper yesterday, I was thinking of things associated with the occasion. Things and words like hearts, love, balloons, teddy bears and the colours red and pink. I cannot figure out the connections between teddy bears, balloons and love. Does everyone who is in love owns a teddy? Or maybe they always held on to balloons when visiting theme parks? The latter is always the case in Korean dramas. When the protagonist fall out of love, they will usually be shown letting go of the balloon and the poor balloon will fly away. It reminds me of a scene in Princess Hours.
I can understand balloons during Birthdays but why Valentine’s? Are balloons considered sweet things for ladies? Balloons are sometimes also used to signify freedom thus explaining the release of the balloon. Releasing a balloon may also meant that the protagonist is letting go of the relationship. Am I wrong to think that it’s an inverse relationship with love?
My teddy bear
Teddy bears again reminds me of scenes in Princess Hours whereby the male lead gave a teddy bear to the female lead or the bear is a representation of one of the leads and they fell in love. Why bears? Pandas are adorable as well and most robots are cute. However most of the time, bears especially teddy ones are used. Why do you think that’s the case? What makes teddy bears so special?
- Chewy is in the army currently [«]
10 February, 2010 at 10:34 am
I luff your website! It’s so colorful, it puts a smile on my face (I know, very corny BUT TRUE!
)
The wallpaper is adorable! Why are balloons a Valentine’s Day fav?? I never got the concept of that. It’s more of a birthday thing.
I agree!! Pandas are SO adorable! They should be giving those out on Valentine’s Day!! But I guess they use teddy bears because it’s like a common thing to give and/or they just love the cuteness
I never had a boyfriend but I still use Valentine’s day for just hugging the life out of my niece! I don’t think Valentine’s Day is about couples, and it annoys me when people think the opposite.
9 February, 2010 at 9:50 pm
hi there i love ur layout omg its so unique
. i love teddy bears whatever the occassion so im glad that they have them for most occassions.. i like the wallpaper u made, its cute..
9 February, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I have no one to celebrate valentines day with, therefore Im not going to be celebrating it. haha. I do love your wallpaper.
9 February, 2010 at 4:47 pm
With friends and family? I actually do not think that Valentine’s is a day just for couples. I think friends can have fun together on the day as well! =D
9 February, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Awww, Princess Hours (or Goong)! That was the first Korean series I watched and is still one of my favs :’)
You raise a good point about the symbolism behind balloons on Valentines Day… I never realized it, but you’re right– it doesn’t make any sense! lol
I guess it’s just used to show a celebration? I dunno..
Anyways, Have a great Valentines Day!! =D
9 February, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Awww, I love the wallpaper! I set it as my desktop background
I guess teddy bears are cute, and in the marketing world cute sells :P
9 February, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Hey your teddy looks just like the one I made myself at Build-a-Bear. I love teddies. <3 Mine's name is Rupert haha.
9 February, 2010 at 4:48 pm
It’s from Build-a-Bear! I bought the bear with a shirt and skirt but I thought it looks cuter without any clothes on so I removed it. :P
9 February, 2010 at 10:30 am
My boyfriend got me a stuffed toy shark from when we visited the aquarium one time. It’s really cute and has huge eyes lol, reminds me of the day we spent together. And about the balloons, I don’t really know why people give balloons on Valentine’s day but I love balloons because I think they’re cute! But that might just be me being a big kid lol xD Really pretty wallpaper by the way! You’re very talented! What did you use to make it? xoxo
9 February, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I love balloons too. I think everyone will stare if I’m carrying it in Singapore. It’s a rather conservative country and anything out of ordinary will bring you stares.
Thanks for the compliments. I drew it using Photoshop.
9 February, 2010 at 8:22 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dayna and Dayna, Amanda Sambrook. Amanda Sambrook said: Why teddy bears and balloons? » Amour Chaleur: Things and words like hearts, love, balloons, teddy bears and the c… http://bit.ly/cIJZcY [...]
9 February, 2010 at 8:18 am
Both very good questions. The balloon is the one that is more confusing. At least a teddy bear will last a while, but a balloon is deflated in a few days.
What I do know however, is now I want a balloon. Have you seen those big ones that make noise when you bop it? Very cool!
9 February, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Some balloons, especially those that are filled with Helium can be “reused”. We are bring those to the stores to be filled up again. If I’m not wrong, it cost a few bucks to get it floating again. Those big balloons (yes, they do make the bop noise!) are usually a lot more expensive than the usual rubber ones we have.
9 February, 2010 at 5:21 am
I don’t associate balloons with Valentine’s Day. I think the teddy bear makes sense because it’s a cute (and stereotypical) gift that someone buys for his or her partner! Teddy bears are the most common but I think any stuffed animal fits :P
9 February, 2010 at 12:42 am
I’m celebrating Valentine’s day a week later because I’m away this weekend and work every weekday. I saw that cute wallpaper on your twitter. You’re so good at drawing those pandas, it’s SO adorable.
I guess teddy bears are cute and something girls like so it sort of like related to valentines day? I have no idea to be honest. I’m not sure how chocolate is related as well, I’m assuming it’s because girls are suppose to like it.
9 February, 2010 at 12:23 am
Aww, cute illustration
I’ve never thought about the connections between the gifts we give on Valentine’s and their relationship to love. But your post got me thinking about chocolates; why do people give those? I’ve never seen people actually give balloons out on V-day though, so I thought that was interesting.
9 February, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Thanks! I love your illustrations too.
I have been thinking about chocolates as well. It is one of the most traditional gifts during Valentine’s other than flowers and bears. I did a Google search and this is what I found:
According to this article, chocolates were considered valuable, divine, and decadent and hence there’s nothing better than giving chocolates to women. The first chocolate candies were invented in the 1860s by Cadbury, who was also the first to market them in a heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day that same decade.
In this article, chocolate has long been associated with passion, romance and love and it was believed that it was a source of spiritual wisdom, incredible energy and elevated sexual power.
It is very interesting to read about how chocolates are related to Valentine’s, at least there’s a rational reason such that it’s been pass down for centuries. Chocolates FTW!
10 February, 2010 at 1:38 am
Ooo, that makes so much more sense now! Thanks for sharing! As much as I love chocolates though, I feel like they’re too overrated as V-day gifts. I’d much rather get something unique and more thoughtful, not a “oh hey, it’s Valentine’s day, so I’ll just get her roses and chocolates and maybe a teddy bear too”