Chinese couples climb Sydney Bridge to mark Valentine Day

Updated on : Sunday, February 14, 2010

SYDNEY: Six Chinese couples from Beijing and Shangai climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge on Sunday morning to welcome the Year of the Tiger and to celebrate Valentine's Day.They had expected to see the sunrise but humid and foggy conditions foiled their hopes and they were only able to wave at passing boats and enjoy the cool morning breeze.

But the couples were still happy with the experience."It's very interesting and it's a very meaningful occasion for us because this is the first time we are spending Valentines Day overseas," said one of the participants in the climb, Louisa.

All the couples were on holiday in Australia and most of their families were still back in China for the lunar new year celebrations."I wish my family all the best in the coming lunar new year and good health and prosperity," said Beijing resident, Zhang HongJun, standing with his wife Wang Ziwing.The lunar new year is celebrated by many countries in Asia as well as the Chinese diaspora.

UK School bans sending Valentine cards

Updated on : Friday, February 12, 2010

LONDON: A school has banned its pupils from sending cards on Valentine's Day, saying the youngsters are not mature enough for romance, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Ashcombe Primary School -- which teaches students aged four to 11 -- has threatened to confiscate any cards found on the premises in Somerset, said the Times.

"Some children and parents encourage a lot of talk about boyfriends and girlfriends," wrote head teacher Peter Turner in a monthly newsletter.

"We believe that such ideas should wait until children are mature enough emotionally and socially to understand the commitment involved in having or being a boyfriend and girlfriend," he said in the letter to parents.

But the head teacher of the school, which has 419 pupils, came under fire for the Valentine card crackdown.

Rajeev Takyar, whose children Jai, 11, and five-year-old Aryan, are pupils there, blasted the ban as "ridiculous."

"Whatever is going to be next?. Banning them stops children from having social skills. How are they going to learn about relationships otherwise?"