Who needs dinner and romance when there’s a medieval poetry reading instead?
According to Russian news agency RIA-Novosti, Uzbekistan is cracking down on celebrating love on February 14, canceling concerts and other romance-themed events, the Associated Press reports.
As a substitute, authorities have arranged readings of poems by Mughal emperor Babur — whose birthday falls on Cupid’s holiday — for residents of the country’s capital city, Tashkent.
The formerly Soviet country has long felt a disdain for Valentine’s Day. Last year the Turkiston newspaper voiced the Uzbekistan government’s views of the Western holiday, and called it the result of “forces with evil goals bent on putting an end to national values.”
Come on Uzbeks, all you need is love, right?