Heartbreak and ‘bun’ among Valentine’s Day gifts

With Valentine's Day just days away, the build-up is already visible across Jamaica.

Roadside vendors can be seen setting up displays of gifts wrapped in bright red paper, oversized teddy bears, chocolate baskets and other tokens meant to help lovers express their feelings. While some shoppers plan weeks in advance to find the perfect present, others wait until the day to grab something. But despite the effort and the money spent, many Jamaicans say the gifts don't always hit the mark. Some men even complain that they are often left out.

"Valentine's a woman fi get gifts. Mi neva know man supposed to get gifts too," said a shocked Junior Coley. "If you look good, a woman basket all a them. A Father's Day alone me know man get gift. Mi hear woman say dem buy them man gifts, but mi neva see a woman a walk with a gift and say a her man own."

Julian Bailey, however, says he has received gifts before, albeit infrequently.

"Whatever mi get me really appreciate because from it come from them heart, and dem a give me with love, me good," he said. "Same like how a woman ago reach out to a man fi gifts at all times, the man want feel the same glory. We too want fi feel special."

As for this year, Bailey admitted he has made no concrete plans.

"Up until the day we will see how it will work out," he added.

For others, the day carries painful memories rather than romance. An elderly man, who identified himself only as Oswald, said he stopped celebrating Valentine's Day after experiencing heartbreak years ago.

"I got a broken heart for Valentine's Day. Mi did give me all to the relationship and get disappointed cause she leff me pon Valentine's Day," he recalled.

"Mi used to enjoy the celebration when me did young because a whole heap a girls, but from mi get heartbreak mi nuh celebrate it again."

Mertle said the worst gift she ever received was not something that could be wrapped.

"Me nah celebrate Valentine's. The worse gift me eva get a bun!" she declared. "Mi a wait pon the man fi come and me can't see him a come. Mi friend say she see him a Cross Road with woman a buy her gift."

Though she may still go out, she said she has no interest in romantic observances.

"Mi will go out, but lovey-dovey with Valentine's? Not me." In contrast, Keisha said her past celebrations were filled with thoughtful surprises.

"Mi never get a bad gift. A always good things me get fi Valentine's -- teddy bear, good cologne and mi go Mulan (restaurant) in Atlanta. Mi live it from them time deh till now," she said. "Probably now mi nah get nothing because mi nuh really have nobody now." She encouraged women to treat themselves if necessary, even suggesting gifts like "rose" and "toys" they could buy on their own "even if the man gone."

Indigo Child said he has never received a Valentine's Day gift -- and never expected one.

"Never look forward to a gift from someone because I am always self-reliant," he explained. "A gift is not just about that day. The true gift is love and appreciation. If you want buy me a little something, fine, but the time weh she spend with me is what count -- a that me appreciate."

He also urged men not to feel pressured by expectations surrounding the holiday.

"The man dem fi wise up and understand seh a gift is something you give from yuh heart. So if yuh nuh want give nobody nothing, you nuh haffi give nobody nothing. Dem nuh give you nothing fi put dung."

Still, he maintained that the day should not be dismissed entirely.

"We nah go discourage the lovers' day. Everybody deserve love."