“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” Shakespeare’s tragic love story attracts a wide audience from around the world through poetry, drama, film, and theatre. The story takes place in Verona, the city of love.
February 14th
Some people believe wearing rosy red, lacy underwear and eating 12 green grapes under a table on New Year’s will bring them love in the upcoming year. Others believe in rubbing the statue of Juliet’s right breast on a trip to Verona for luck in love. Last year, I chose to romanticize another single Valentine’s Day with a glass of cherry red wine and a full plate of margherita pizza, listening to the sweet sound of “Sleep Walk.” With a pen and paper in hand, I began to pour out my heart in a love letter to Juliet as redemption for not falling into the traditional New Year’s beliefs.
Once I began writing to Juliet, I wrote for hours… not withholding a single detail. Five pages later when I finally finished reflecting on past feelings of heartbreak and pain and continued expressing the true desires of my hopeless romantic heart, I felt complete closure, comforting peace, and restored hope. Talking about your experience to the greatest love heroine of all time and asking for advice without fear of judgment is the most liberating feeling. I promise.
The Juliet Club
“There is a place in Verona where people who suffer can leave a message and ask Juliet for help” (from “Letters to Juliet” movie). The Juliet Club is a female-based group of volunteers who live out Juliet’s legacy by replying to thousands of letters from around the world addressed to “Juliet, Verona.” The women in this club respond to individuals sharing their vulnerable stories and questions in all different languages who write by mail, email, or in Juliet’s mailbox by hand.
You too can send your handwritten letter to Juliet in the most traditional and personal way by mailing it to the address below using a USPS global forever stamp:
Juliet Club
Vicolo Santa Cecilia 9, 37121
Verona – Italy
For a quicker response, you can email the Juliet Club at dearjuliet@julietclub.com. Or, if you happen to stumble upon Juliet’s balcony in Verona, you can leave your message in a sealed envelope in one of Juliet’s red mailboxes delivered directly to her house (Vicolo Santa Cecilia 9, 37121).
Letters to Juliet
Love is patient, love is kind. I shared my own little love story on February 14, 2023, with Juliet and patiently waited several months for a response. One day, I finally received an envelope stating, “Club di Giulietta” from Italy. She wrote,
“Dear Giana,
Thank you for sharing your story, it does indeed remind me of my own love story. You have experienced the thrill of first love and also the pain when that love ends. No heartbreak will ever be worse than your first great heartbreak.
Love (and life) is about being bold and taking risks. I would not have found my great love if Romeo had not done so. I urge you to be bold and fearless in your search for love and happiness. If it is meant to be it will be and if not, better to have loved and lost than to never love at all.”
I hope you write with your next great love story soon,
Juliet
Cara Giulietta
Each year, a Dear Juliet Award is awarded to the most beautiful letters written to Shakespeare’s heroine from all over the world. The most touching symbol of love is presented in Verona at the Piccolo Teatro di Giulietta. This Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to take a break from the apps and get your single ladies together and write letters to Juliet sharing your personal sappy love stories. Perhaps twenty-twenty-four has a greater love in store…
February 15th
After you’ve professed your love story to Juliet, celebrate the following day, La Festa dei Singles (“Single’s Day”) or Festa di San Faustino (“Feast of San Faustino”), on February 15th like the Italians by going out to social events with some friends and mingling with others. “Faustino” Latin for “luck” has been deemed a symbol of hope for those searching for love. The lifestyle site La Vita Single (Single Life) dedicated this day in 2001 as a celebration of seasons of singleness, honoring those widowed or divorced, and bringing awareness of the difficulties of living alone. My note to you is to express love for yourself and the people around you daily. Let’s normalize solo coffee, dinner, and movie dates! After all, I can buy myself flowers…
