Love day
Every year, we set aside a day to celebrate those who have found love in their lives, who know romance, who have a special someone. For the rest of the population, this day is a painful reminder of what they’re missing. Or it’s something to scoff at, a trivial holiday, a Hollywood holiday, created by greeting card companies and chocolate vendors.Regardless of what Valentines Day has come to represent in our culture, it’s good to remember that it’s somehow rooted in history. Just as the Easter rabbit and Santa Claus have become cartoon characters for an older tradition, Valentines Day’s take on love hasn’t always been so sentimental.
There are varying opinions about the origin of Valentines Day but some say it came from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day we write love poems and trade flowers today.
Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for his jailer’s daughter and signed it “From Your Valentine”. Now that’s romantic: the last heartful words of a condemned man. And even more, directed to the daughter of the man imprisoning him! I would like to see something as profound nowadays in the romantic comedies we see at theatres every February.
Gradually, February 14 became an established holiday and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. OK, there’s alot more to the story but it’s quite less romantic than you might be expecting or hoping. There’s things about Romans placing the names of girls in boxes for men to choose and Roman emperors canceling marriages to send men off to war. I wouldn’t want to spoil your holiday with these nasty details.
So let’s instead celebrate Valentines Day as it’s celebrated today. Or, if you’re not so inclined, it’s the perfect occasion to gather with other single friends, get drunk, and make fun of all the stupid movies on TV. There’s alway a way to enjoy a holiday.
