A St. Valentine’s Day Note

The World

A little St. Valentine’s Day note.

All those cards, flowers and chocolates that you have been giving or receiving today; In some countries that is just not allowed.

In Saudi Arabia, for instance, the authorities arrested people today who celebrated Valentine’s Day.

And in Iran, it is illegal to give Valentine’s gifts.

Although, strangely, Valentine’s Day gift giving has actually been growing in popularity there in recent years.

Some Iranians even take the quietly subversive route of pulling red clothing out of their closets and wearing it in public on this day.

The government can try and stop that, but it cannot stop the love.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.