Dating a Russian Lady? 7 Valentine’s Day Mistakes to Avoid and What to Do

14 february written on a box beside a box of chocolates

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Russia with your partner, and make it memorable.

The major holidays are over. No more worrying about purchasing the wrong gift, setting a festive mood, and showing appreciation for her efforts of making things merry. But not so fast! There’s still one holiday looming on the horizon, and it’s a doozy one: Valentine’s Day.

It’s a day when people from all over the globe express their love to their partners. It’s when gifting cliches and romantic blunders are enough to ruin your significant other’s memory. It’s a celebration where even your best intentions can turn into missteps that can ruin your relationship. All of these are true, especially if you’re dating a Russian lady.

Valentine’s Day in Russia is not as popular as in most Western countries. However, the country has been embracing the celebration for more than a decade. Celebrating Valentine’s Day together is surely a wonderful idea, especially if you haven’t seen each other for a long time. However, even if you surprise her by flying to Russia, there are still pitfalls you need to veer away from to have a memorable and romantic February 14th.

In general, women love it more than men, which is why the latter is prone to trouble when the day arrives. If you’re a guy and want to make this special day as smooth-sailing as it can be, here are common mistakes to avoid on the Day of Hearts.

NOT celebrating Valentine’s Day because there’s no need to.

It seems silly that there’s one day in February when you, as a man, are supposed to prove your love to your woman when, in fact, you can do it every day. Nonetheless, since Valentine’s Day is a holiday hyped by many, even by Russian women, you still have to make an effort. You have to do it right and not spoil the moment.

Many Russian women look forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day since it focuses on giving and receiving love. Call it anything you want, but refusing to celebrate it with her can dampen the spirit of Valentine’s.

You might think that you don’t need this day to prove your love. Think again. You’ll be doing great emotional damage to your relationship if you don’t recognize Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to romantically express your feelings to your partner.

What you can do: Don’t behave like it’s an ordinary day. Besides, you’ve flown from your country to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Russian woman, so make the most out of your time. You don’t have to make grand gestures of love. A simple celebration or gift giving will suffice. Take her out to dinner and give her a valentinki (heart-shaped candies and cards). The most important thing to do is acknowledge the essence of the day. It’s a day to give her your utmost attention, care, and love.

NOT planning ahead.

Before you meet in person, make sure that you have everything covered, from where to go, what to do next, and how to end the day. It’ll be a shame if your mind is preoccupied thinking about the next step instead of focusing on your time together.

What you can do:If you have a hard time remembering what to do next, you can always write everything down on your smartphone.

NOT buying the right gifts.

Perhaps the worst pitfall you can commit on Valentine’s Day is being thoughtless. Don’t buy anything unless she’s specifically brought it up before. If you’re giving her roses, make sure to know the different meanings behind every color.

What you can do: Perhaps you’ve talked about the things she wants, or she might have given you some hints of the items that are on her wishlist. It pays off to be attentive and thoughtful. Buy her things she really wants or needs, rather than buying anything just for the sake of giving.

NOT booking reservations in advance.

woman and man sitting across with wine glasses on the table.

Russian women are bound to have expectations from their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

According to TASS, Russia’s leading news agency, almost half of the Russian population spends and celebrates Valentine’s Day. This means that there’s a huge possibility that every restaurant and cinema in the city may be fully occupied on February 14th. Failing to book a table for two or two tickets in advance can be disastrous to your date.

What you can do: Block the reservation weeks ahead. Keep in mind that restaurants are among the busiest during Valentine’s Day

NOT focusing on the entirety of Valentine’s Day.

One common mistake men commit during Valentine’s Day is focusing only on the date rather than the entirety of the day. Often, after people come home from a movie or dinner date, they just sit on the couch and watch TV or keep busy browsing the Internet using their phones. The catch? Don’t make “Valentine’s night out” the special time of the day when the rest is back to your daily routine. Your partner may feel like there’s nothing special going on throughout the day.

What you can do: Before she starts her day, why not send her a romantic note and a single rose to brighten up her day? Tell her that you’re excited to meet her and be with her later this evening. On the other hand, you can continue the romantic vibe by taking a stroll down the park or going home for an intimate night together.

NOT relying on other days to fuel the fire in your relationship.

If Valentine’s Day is the only day of the year when you spice up your relationship, what happens when it’s over? No more going to the movies and cinemas? No more fancy restaurants and wines? Admit it, not every day is a lovefest, but if Valentine’s Day is your only path to romance, then your boat is sinking.

What you can do: Take advantage of the other 364 days in the calendar. You can always set date nights even if there’s no special occasion.

NOT involving physical intimacy.

woman holding a Happy Valentine’s Day card.

Russian women appreciate men who make an effort on Valentine’s Day.

Now that you’ve ticked all the Valentine’s Day to-do boxes, it’s easy to forget about the intimacy part. Sure, she’ll definitely appreciate your effort, but she’s human. She needs to feel your presence and know you’re really there for her.

What you can do: Pretty simple and straightforward. Give her a hug when you pick her up from her house. Hold her hand while you cross the street to the restaurant or cinema. Give her an extended kiss to cap off the night.

It’s easy to commit some of these mistakes without even realizing it, especially when you’re over the moon for finally celebrating Valentine’s together. As you can see, you can avoid these pitfalls if you put in a little effort and by paying attention to your partner and to yourself. After all, you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day not just because it’s a trend, you’re celebrating because you care and love your woman. You want to give her the special treatment she deserves.

Remember to keep up the gestures of love for the rest of the year and have a romantic Valentine’s Day, champ!