Traditional lovers' day Dragobete becomes more popular than Valentine's among Romanians

Romanians celebrate love two times in February – once on Valentine’s Day on February 14, and the Romanian one called Dragobete on February 24, but the traditional one is growing more popular among locals. Over half of Romanians celebrate Dragobete and 71% of them will buy gifts on this occasion, according to a recent study conducted by iSense.Solutions. Most of them plan to spend between RON 50 (EUR 11) and RON 100 (some EUR 23) on gifts. Some 50% celebrate both Valentine’s Day and Dragobete, but the number of those who celebrate only the Romanian lovers’ day is higher than in the case of Valentine’s Day – 13% against 9%. “Although Valentine’s Day is a celebration more commercial than Dragobete, as 88% of those who celebrate it offer gifts on this occasion, compared to 71% on Dragobete, we notice however that the local event is becoming more popular among Romanians,” said Traian Nastase, managing partner iSense.Solutions. More men plan to by gifts on lovers' day than women. 80% of Romanian men plan to buy a gift for Dragobete, higher than the figure registered in the case of women – 61%. The trend is similar to the one registered on Valentine’s Day – 91% against 85%. The study was conducted online by iSense.Solutions. Data are representative for urban Romanians aged over 15. Gift ideas and romantic places for Dragobete: lovers’ day, the Romanian way. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com