Almost four fifths of Slovaks celebrate Valentine

ST. VALENTINE’S Day, the popular holiday of Anglo-Saxon origin celebrating love, is currently celebrated by four fifths of Slovaks.

Valentine's Day, illustrative stock photoValentine's Day, illustrative stock photo (Source: SME)

This year, they plan to spend about the same amount on Valentine’s presents as last year, only one in five plan to pay more, a survey made by the Ipsos agency for the UniCredit Bank showed.

Most money is spent on sweets, the poll made online of 840 Slovak and 840 Czech respondents aged 18 to 65 showed. Slovaks spend an average €11 on chocolates and desserts, which totals 34 percent of all gifts, and which are followed by invitations to a restaurant (21%). Women tend to buy chocolates and sweets (for €12), while men prefer to buy flowers (€22 in average, 21% of men). If a man decides to buy lingerie, the average expense amounts to €90.

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In 2015, Slovaks spent €24 on average (€2.5 less than in 2014) on Valentine’s, and they mostly plan the same costs also for this year. About 20% want to pay more, while approximately 6% plan to spend less.

“The willingness to spend money for Valentine depends very much on the age,” UniVredit Bank spokeswoman Zuzana Ďuďáková told the TASR newswire. “While one third of those young want to spend more than last year, only 11% of those over 50 plan to do so.” She added that the holiday has become a universal phenomenon in the country, as even most elderly Slovaks observe it.

With the growth of online shopping, Slovaks also grow ever more daring, and for St Valentine’s Day, as a result buy ever more erotic gifts and frivolous events, a poll by the Zľavomat.sk discount shopping website found.

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On average Slovaks spend €20 to €50 for Valentine surprises, with massages, wellness trips and romantic weekends costing more than €100.

The holiday is among the few when men show an increased interest in shopping and close the spending gap compared to women. Although it still cannot equal other holidays like Christmas or summer holidays as toexpenses spent, its popularity keeps growing, Zľavomat summed up.

Among the top Valentine gifts are those with one’s own photo or a heart; romantic dinners; wellness treatments and stays; Valentine stays; erotic gifts and events. And those latter have their own chart of popularity, topped by disposable lingerie, erotic massages, and packages with condoms and gels.        

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From left: Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer), Supreme Allied Commander Europe Christopher Cavoli, and Daniel Zmeko.

Don't forget to do your shopping ahead of Easter, a tip for a new Slovak National Gallery exhibition, and feast your eyes on decorated eggs.


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