Giving flowers and gifts on March 8 is an obligation.

Showing love, care, and concern for your loved one is also a sweet gift on March 8th - Photo: QUANG DINH

Gifts and flowers are merely a 'means' to an end.

I own a large flower shop in Saigon. Every year on March 8th, I'm surprised to see that even in the late afternoon, past 10 PM, and late at night, there are still many customers buying flowers to give to the women in their lives. The evening of March 8th is even busier than the daytime.

At that moment, the guys looked both adorable and funny: some rushed in, buying flowers in a hurry, saying, "Any kind will do, I need to get this done quickly"; others stumbled into the shop, slurring their words, and left clutching their bouquets. There was also one guy who hurriedly brought in a gift and said, "Wrap it up with the flowers as a combo, it's late, hurry up, anything will do."

I secretly wondered, if I gave her flowers like this, how would she feel when she received the flowers and gift? Buying flowers hastily and giving them to her late at night might easily result in flowers that aren't to her liking.

She thought March 8th was a special day, but her husband didn't come home. Late that evening, he finally appeared, drunk and looking like a "noodle," carrying a basket of flowers. She was pleasantly surprised.

On March 8th, my husband said nothing, not a single sweet text message, not even a kiss on the forehead before going to work. Throughout the day, he didn't interact with me at all, so by the end of the day, no bouquet of flowers or gift could salvage the situation.

Many men don't understand that women need "what's behind the gift," not the gift itself. That is, women need to be cherished, cared for, loved, and affectionate, and gifts and flowers are just two of many "means" a man can use to express that.

What is "the thing behind the gift"?

My friend hasn't given his wife flowers or gifts for years, not even on International Women's Day (March 8th), but she's always happy with him. Every time she mentions him, she speaks with pride. At social gatherings, I've noticed her looking at her husband with affectionate eyes.

Why is it that a man may never give his wife flowers or gifts in his entire life, yet she remains happy and content?

Upon inquiry, it turned out that he always paid attention to his wife's every little detail. One afternoon, after returning home from work, she stumbled on the doorstep because the sole of her shoe had come loose. The next morning, when she put on her shoes, she was touched to see that he had secretly repaired them without her noticing. She always wanted to sleep on a bed with clean, white sheets. Knowing her wishes, he bought five beautiful sets of sheets, all in white.

He always washes the bedsheets separately to keep them looking brand new. He even lights scented candles for her to relax with.

Whenever his wife was in the kitchen, he would quietly check and sharpen the knives. He made sure they were always sharp. While his wife was cooking, he played a supporting role. He would wash the dishes and kitchen utensils as she cooked. After washing, he would help prepare the vegetables and arrange the food.

He felt that it was "very unsightly" for him to be lounging on the sofa while his wife was cleaning, so he "found something to do while she was cleaning." If he wasn't scrubbing the toilet, he was hanging up laundry; if not hanging up laundry, he was tidying up.

The wife knows better than anyone that these small things are done out of love and affection. She knows how lucky she is to be with a husband who cherishes her so much. Therefore, on March 8th or other holidays, flowers and gifts are nice, but not essential. Simply put, she receives a "flower of love" from her husband every day.

I also once read a post from a friend: "My husband, surprisingly, is very thoughtful. When my watch battery ran out, he knew and replaced it immediately. He also knows my shoe size and dress size. For International Women's Day (March 8th), he always proactively buys gifts a few days in advance. And he buys them with great care, spending a lot of time choosing them."

Every year on March 8th, debates erupt about whether or not to give flowers and gifts, "Is it necessary to give flowers and gifts?", "Living together with sincerity is enough, what's the need for extravagance?", "Do women really need gifts that much?"... The answers can be found in the stories above.

Women don't demand gifts at all costs; what they truly need is the affection, the love, and the care that lies behind the gift.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khi-tang-hoa-qua-trong-ngay-8-3-la-nghia-vu-20240307092417274.htm