What French think of Valentine’s Day

SEVEN out of 10 French people consider Valentine’s Day the perfect time for a marriage proposal, according to one of several surveys in the newspapers in the lead up to the most romantic day of the year.

And 60% of those who responded to the same cadeaux.com survey said that the word “Love” is the word that best describes February 14.

The same number said that it was the perfect time for a romantic night in, while 46% said they preferred to go out to celebrate.

But not all French people are seduced. A total 20% believed that Valentine’s day has become too commercial - although 56% said they would spend between €10 and €40 on a gift, while 40% are prepared to splash out even more on their loved ones, between €50 and €90.

Men and women, it would appear, look for different things when meeting someone new. Nearly three-quarters (73%) men who responded to a survey in Le Parisien said looks and “femininity” attracted them most to potential partners - but 74.9% of the women who took part in the same survey said they were looking for kindness and attentiveness.

More than half of women (57%) said they would be unwilling to talk about their relationship status if they were single, while single men are even more likely to be embarrassed if asked about whether they were in a relationship.

Of those questioned by Le Parisien, 46.4% of single people said they were looking for a spouse, with another 44.4% saying they wanted a long-term partner.

A message of love, even a simple text, can enhance a relationship, according to 55% of those surveyed - but dating sites proved a turn-off for more than a third (37%) of those polled.

Photo: little*star