In the "Lifestyle Suggestions" section, MOOMIN SHOP ONLINE staff will suggest lifestyles that incorporate recommended Moomin items.
February 14th is Valentine's Day. In Japan, people often give gifts to loved ones and prepare special chocolates for themselves, but in Finland, February 14th is called "Ystävänpäivä" and is considered "Friends' Day."
Around the world, Christmas is often thought of as a day to spend with a lover and express affection, but in Finland it is a day to spend with friends, express gratitude and celebrate friendship. In Finland, there is a culture of giving postcards to each other for seasons, events, and celebrations, and in February postcards for "Friends' Day" go on sale, showing that it is a custom that is cherished by the Finnish people.
I usually exchange chocolates and small gifts with my friends at this time of year, but this year I decided to give them my favorite postcards. There are many types of Moomin cards, but my favorite is the wooden postcards, which use precious art and are fun to look at and touch.
The texture is expressed using a specially printed 3D print, so I like that I can enjoy Tove Jansson's beautiful color expression and delicate touch in three dimensions.
I especially love this blue wreath pattern, with its delicate depiction of shells, flowers and the Moomins.
There are several Moomin wreath art pieces, but this one is extremely valuable as it was used on letter paper by the Finnish post office.
I had a hard time deciding which design to give to my friend, but the wreath featured her favorite character, Moran, so I decided to give her the wreath pattern, which I love.
My friend likes to change the interior of her room to suit the season or her mood, so I thought she would enjoy displaying it in different ways after it arrived, which was one of the reasons I chose this item. Preparing a gift while imagining how happy it will be for someone special is a happy feeling.
A message is added to the back of the card. It was a little embarrassing to spend time thinking about a dear friend, but it was a pleasant experience. Recently, I've been sending messages via email and social media, so I don't have many opportunities to write, but I was able to remember the joy of writing for the first time in a long time.
It's nice to go out with friends and give them directly, or to attach them to presents, but the appeal of these wooden postcards is that they are thick and sturdy, and you can also put a stamp on them and send them. Since I won't be able to meet my friends this year, I decided to send them by mail. It costs 110 yen to send domestically, so I would definitely recommend it to people who have loved ones living far away.
We live in a convenient age where we can send messages instantly, but on special days, why not take the time to think about your loved ones and enjoy the process of expressing your feelings? February 14th is a great day to express love, but it can also be a wonderful day to cherish friendship.
