Stellenbosch’s picturesque streets and cozy coffee shops serve as the perfect backdrop for
Valentine’s Day. Luckily for the singles among us, this not only serves the couples strolling down
Victoria street hand in hand. The majority of students are, in fact, single. But at Stellenbosch
University, students didn’t sit around and mope like many singles around the world on the 14th
of February: they took the occasion in stride to celebrate connection in all its forms.
Speaking of walking down Victoria Street, Majuba’s annual serenade could not be missed…quite literally. Each and every girl walking past was stopped by an ensemble of Majuba first years and enthusiastically serenaded (and the serenaders did not break eye contact once). They even went to the extent of stopping girls in their cars as they were driving past, dancing
around their vehicle as they sang to them.
“Our aim was to make every girl feel special,” Qunitin Hattingh, a second year in Majuba, remarked when asked about the serenade. It’s a yearly tradition that they take very seriously, and forms a great part of the gees that constitutes Valentine’s Day in Stellenbosch. “Galentine’s” took social media by storm this year as well, seeing friend groups come together to
host picnics and celebrate each other. “It’s not just about couples, it’s about friendships as well,” were the words of Andrea Hugo, a second year LLB student. She took the day to honour her friends, as well as go on a romantic flower picking date with her boyfriend at Jamestown Flower Farm.
It wouldn’t be Stellenbosch without a sokkie, and there were quite a few to choose from this Valentine’s Day, namely, the one hosted by Dagbreek as well as the famous Kruiskerk sokkie. This once again shows how students came together and made the most of Valentine’s Day, with each of these sokkies being packed with people who were there to dance and mingle.
Rulé van der Merwe, a second year BSc (Laser Physics) student, reflected on the day and said that “everyone made an effort to feel good and look good and to go do something fun”, whether that was dressing in red or pink, going on a cute date or just celebrating with friends. Valentine’s Day in this special town we call home had and will always have something for everyone.
By Gené Bester
