Last Saturday was St Valentine’s Day. My French calendar also informs me that it was also the day for St Cyrille and St Methode (is this a takeover bid for John Wesley?) but I’ll pass on them. Traditionally St Valentine’s day has become a great merchandising opportunity in which large hearts fill the windows of shops and the pockets of shop-keepers.
Reclaim Love, now in its sixth year, sets in opposition to the commercialisation of this festival of love. Everything is free – including several hundred free t-shirts, free hugs, free food, music and being together and enjoying each other’s company.
Love comes free and it is the greatest force in the world is the message behind this annual festival organised by – who else – Venus. And it’s an event that is spreading around the world, with Reclaim Love events this year in countries including Iceland, Finland, Spain, Italy, India, Pakistan, Australia and elsewhere.
At 3pm, Venus organises everyone present to hold hands to form a large circle around the whole area, rushing herself to join it and send out a message of love to the world.
And then the partying continues under the statue of Eros.
More about the event and more pictures on My London Diary, where you can also see pictures from some previous years – 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.