TIRANA, Feb 14 /ATA/ – Tirana awoke on Saturday to Valentine’s Day decorations, with red-themed displays, heart-shaped balloons and messages of love transforming the Albanian capital into a festive setting for couples and visitors.
Festive installations were set up across key landmarks, drawing residents and foreign tourists alike to mark the symbolic day.
ATA photojournalist Florian Abazaj captured scenes from the celebrations, which brought together young couples, families and children in various parts of the city.
In the central Skanderbeg Square, decorative light installations provided a popular backdrop for photographs, as couples, families and tourists gathered to take pictures and exchange flowers.
Valentine’s-themed décor was also visible at other prominent locations, including the Air Albania Stadium, the Artificial Lake Park and the Tirana Zoo, which became gathering points throughout the day.
While widely seen as a celebration for couples, Valentine’s Day in Tirana has also taken on a broader festive character, adding colour and vibrancy to the city.
Feb. 14 is observed in the Christian calendar as the feast day of Saint Valentine, a martyr and saint. According to legend, he became associated with lovers after officiating a marriage between a pagan Roman soldier and a Christian woman. Another tradition holds that he encouraged reconciliation between a young couple by giving them a rose and later blessed their union.
In time, couples began travelling to the Italian town of Terni on Feb. 14 to seek Saint Valentine’s blessing for their relationships.
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