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 A hot air balloon flies over San Diego county during Valentine's Day in California February 14, 2007. |
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Forget cards, flowers and chocolates, most singles want a special experience rather than a gift for Valentine's Day and although the economy is stagnating, most romantics will spend as much, or more, on the day this year than last. Nearly half of single and divorced people questioned in a new poll said they view the day as an opportunity to show someone how much they care but a similar number without a significant other don't feel any pressure to celebrate Cupid's big day. "People are really interested in experience gifts, rather than object gifts," said Gian Gonzaga, a social psychologist with the dating website eHarmony, which conducted the online survey. "The more you have experiences with someone, the more you are able to build memories and share histories that help to make the relationship more intimate." Unlike material gifts, he added, an experience, whether it is an outing, a vacation or a special meal, is something unique to the couple, especially if it reflects both people's interests. But not everyone questioned in the poll of 730 singles is making a fuss about Valentine's Day. About a third of men and women think the holiday is just too commercial. US consumers are expected to spend about $126 each this year for Valentine's Day, an increase of 8.5 percent from 2011. Total spending for the day, which is one of the biggest gift-giving holidays of the year, is expected to reach $17.6 billion. Traditional gifts will make up most of the outlay. About 20 percent of people will buy jewelry for their Valentine with the price tag for bling expected to exceed $4.1 billion. Gift cards are also primed to be a popular token of affection with 17.3 percent of people choosing them. Candy and flowers are still popular with nearly a third of people expected to opt for them and a similar number will dig deep into their pockets for an evening out. Spouses, partners and sweethearts will not be the only ones receiving presents. Pet owners will dispense about $4.52 for their furry friends for Valentine's Day, according to the NRF(National Retail Federation). Although Valentine's Day is eagerly anticipated by many, some singles dread the day while others remain optimistic. Seventy percent of singles said they would even go out on a first or blind date on Valentine's Day. (Read by Lee Hannon. Lee Hannon is a journalist at the China Daily Website.) (Agencies) |
今年情人節，大多數單身者最想要的禮物不是賀卡、鮮花和巧克力，而是一段特別的經歷。盡管經濟停滯不前，多數追求浪漫的人在這一天仍然不會少花錢，甚至會花得比去年更多。 一項新的民意調查發現，近半數單身者和離婚人士認為情人節是向某人表白的好機會，但也有數量相近的單身人士表示對過節絲毫沒有壓力。 開展這一在線調查的是約會網站eHarmony，該網站的社會心理學家吉安?岡薩加說：“人們確實對體驗更感興趣，而非物質禮物?！?/p> “你和某人的共同經歷越多，就能創造更多的回憶，擁有更多共同的過去，這有助于讓兩人的感情關系更親密。” 他補充道，與物質禮物不同，一段經歷，無論是郊游、度假還是一頓特別的晚餐，尤其是一起做兩人都感興趣的事情，才是情侶間獨一無二的禮物。 不過，在接受調查的730位單身人士中，并非每個人都會花很多心思慶祝情人節。約三分之一的男性和女性認為這個節日太商業化。 今年情人節，預計美國消費者將人均消費126美元，比2011年上漲8.5%。情人節是全年最大的送禮節日之一，全日總消費有望達到176億美元。 傳統禮物將占據花銷的大部分。約20%的人會為情人買珠寶，珠寶消費有望超過41億美元。賀卡也將成為受歡迎的愛情象征物，有17.3%的人選擇了賀卡。 糖果和鮮花依然很受歡迎，有近三分之一的人將選擇糖果和鮮花。還有數量相近的人晚上會出去玩，好好消費一下。 據美國零售聯合會稱，不僅僅配偶、伴侶和愛人將收到情人節禮物，寵物主人也會在情人節為他們毛茸茸的朋友花費4.52美元。 盡管很多人熱切期盼情人節的到來，有些單身者卻害怕過這個節，不過也有些單身者保持樂觀。70%的單身者稱自己甚至會在情人節進行第一次約會或者相親。 相關閱讀 （中國日報網英語點津 陳丹妮 編輯：Julie） |
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Vocabulary: stagnate: 蕭條，停滯，失去活力 outlay: （錢、精力等的）花費 bling: 大又亮的璀璨珠寶 prime: 使準備好 |
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