Red Roses Available in Black Market

Imagine that Valentine's Day is near and you hoped to get some stuff that was red in colour for your wife/girlfriend. Suddenly, you can't see anything that was red in colour across the city.

The following conversation overheard in a florist shop:-
Man: I'm looking for some flowers for my girlfriend.

Shopowner: They are not available, Sir.

Man: What do you mean? You have no red roses? It's Valentine's Day today and you don't sell flowers in your shop?

Shopowner: It's very unfortunate, Sir. We can't sell RED roses but I suggest that you buy other type of flowers instead.

Man: How come it's not available throughout the city. Where are those red stuff?

Shopowner: The religious police made their rounds and warned shopowners to stop selling red coloured stuff as the red coloured items were banned.

Man: ???????? Fine, fine. Get me a bouquet of carnations then and please wrap it with red coloured wrappers.

Shopowner: Sorry Sir but we could not sell RED coloured wrapper as well. This is my selection of coloured wrappers but no red colour.

Man: This is crazy. Any ideas where I could get what I wanted.

Shopowner: You could go to the back lane. There's a guy there who has what you wanted but I'm warning you first, the police could be watching. Those items you wanted are only found in the black market now and the price were much steeper.


The above conversation could happen in Saudi Arabia as shops couldn't sell red coloured items in view of the Valentine's Day as it was considered un-Islamic - being viewed as as encouraging relations between men and women outside wedlock.

Florists took the risk of despatching orders for flowers in the middle of the night to avoid being caught. Rich fellas went over to Bahrain or United Arab Emirates to celebrate the Valentine's Day.

Related blog posting: What The Roses Say About You
Reading: Saudis clamp down on valentines -BBC News/Middle East
Tags: Red Roses, Saudi Arabia, Black Market, Valentine's Day