While thinking of a topic for this blog post, I asked myself this question: Where exactly did the idea of Valentine's Day come from? I did a little research about this infamous holiday, and found out some interesting things about its origin.
Valentine's Day, also known as St. Valentine's Day, is the saint day appointed to St. Valentine by the Roman Catholic Church. However, there is surprisingly few concrete details about the man that this super holiday is named for. According to History.com, it is known that Valentine was a martyr, but how and why are unclear.
One theory is that Valentine was a priest and he performed marriages for young couples secretly after Emperor Cllaudius II outlawed the practice for young men so that these men could become soldiers. In this tale, Valentine died protecting and fostering love and marriage, thus the connection between Valentine and modern Valentine's Day is clear.
Another idea about Valentine is that he was killed for trying to "help Christians escape from harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured." It is said, in this tale, that Valentine actually sent the very first "Valentine" card to his girlfriend while he was in prison. It is said that he signed this note to his love "'from your Valentine', an expression that is still in use today."
While it is unclear which of these stories about Saint Valentine is true, there are some commonalities between all of the accounts of him. All of these tales "emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and--most importantly--romantic figure." Now knowing a little bit about Saint Valentine, it does seem fitting that a holiday all about love coincides with the feast day of Saint Valentine.
The date of Valentine's Day also has historical origins. Some believe that Valentine's Day was strategically placed in the middle of February to coincide with the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival that took place on February 15. By placing Valentine's Day at the same time, the Christians could try to take over and influence this pagan holiday, making it a great time for this celebration to take place.
The romantic element of the holiday did not emerge until the Middle Ages, when someone realized that the birds mating season coincided with the time frame of Valentine's Day. This revelation spawned the idea that romance and love should be an integral part of the holiday, and, as they say, the rest is history.
Fast-forward to today, and we have a very different image of Valentine's Day than the holiday of long ago. What started out as a nice, small holiday where loved ones shared small affectionate cards and tokens has become commercialized and almost fake. People feel obligated to send gifts, cards, and flowers to their loved ones, whether they actually want to or not. Does that sound like a romantic or loving gesture? Not to me.
The sentiment behind Valentine's Day is nice, but has somehow been eroded into something less sweet. Showing love and appreciation for loved ones is a great idea, and it is nice to take time out to celebrate these relationships. One should take time to tell the one's that they love just how much they mean to them. However, this gesture should not be confined to one day a year. If one shows their affection, gratitude, and love to the important people in their lives every day, Valentine's Day becomes unnecessary. People should not need to be reminded or forced to say "I love you" or treat their sweetheart on February 14; they should be doing it all of the time.
This does not mean big romantic gestures or lavish gifts. A simple "I love you", a hand-written note, a homemade meal, small gestures can go a long way to conveying this message of love and appreciation.
Unfortunately, this idea of love is not all that prominent in the commercial holiday. What exactly does candy, flowers, cookie-cutter cards, teddy bears, etc. have to do with love? Why can't people just express how they feel, or show their love every day, not just Valentine's Day?
It also takes the spontaneity and personal aspect of doing something nice for someone. On Valentine's Day, it is expected that couples will go out and celebrate, making the gesture hollow and inorganic.
Don't get me wrong, I actually really enjoy Valentine's Day. I always have, ever since I was little. I love the cards, the flowers, the candy, the whole nine yards. Even though I am not in a relationship, I still enjoy the holiday and taking this day to celebrate love and all the wonderful people in my life. I just wish that it wasn't so commercialized, and could go back to being small and personal, like the sentiment of love.
Regardless of what side of the candy heart fence you land, going out to eat is a Valentine's Day staple. Usually it is someplace romantic and very nice. However, some people in this difficult economy are changing things up. The Waffle House is one of the up and coming Valentine's Day restaurants. Don't believe me? Check out this link:
I for one love the Waffle House. They serve the best omelet I have ever tasted (and their waffles aren't bad either). If someone wanted to take me to the Waffle House for dinner on Valentine's Day (or any night really) I would be over the moon and racing to the restaurant. However, most people prefer the nice, romantic dinner. While the Waffle House is classing up the experience, it is still the Waffle House. If this is all you can afford, go for it, but I would let the date know where you are going first. While I think the commercialization has gotten out of hand for this holiday, that won't change overnight, so it might be best to bite the bullet and pay for a fancy dinner.
With Valentine's Day, it is really all about the attitude. If you lament because you are lonely, or put too much pressure on your date, the day is going to be a major let-down. But if you take it in stride, accept it for what it really is, and reach out to your loved ones, it can be a really great day.
Simple gestures can go a long way. Just ask Snoopy and Woodstock.
And, if you are one of the Valentine's Day haters, cheer up good friends. There is a positive out of this powder keg holiday. February 15th is the day for you. Enjoy 1/2 priced candy day at department stores everywhere!
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