MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) – Officials in the Kyrgyzstani city of Osh have banned Valentine’s Day celebrations in local schools.
“This holiday has never been celebrated in Kyrgyzstan’s history,” the city’s education department head Kushtarbek Kimsanov was quoted as saying by the 24.kg news agency. “The holiday of love is a bad influence on children’s morality.”
Kimsanov did not elaborate on how romance-themed festivities could corrupt children, but said he had ordered Osh school principals to make sure no Valentine’s card mailboxes appeared in their hallways.
Osh is not alone in deciding that the traditional exchange of flowers, candy and affectionate messages on February 14 is unacceptable.
Several high schools in the US state of Florida have this year joined Malaysia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in imposing bans on celebrating the Day of Love.
The Russian region of Belgorod banned Valentine’s Day festivities in schools and government buildings in 2011, saying the holiday promoted promiscuity.
Still, romance is in the air in the annual run-up to February 14, with 48 percent of Russians professing to be in love in a poll published by the independent Levada Center this week.
Men seemed more susceptible to lovesickness than women, with 56 percent of males feeling smitten compared to 40 percent of ladies.
