And today, on the 5th of February we are a week and a bit away from a very "important" day...
A day where, what was meant to be a sweet touching moment between couples and crushes...a time for romantic picnic's, dinners and admittance of feelings, has been corrupted and turned into a commercial, profit making occasion.
Refered to in America as a "Hallmark holiday" due to the amount of "Valentine" cards produced and bought.
Many people view Valentines Day as the one day a year where women are entitled to chocolates and flowers, stuffed toys and romance. While the men are allowed to drop their mucho acts and be soppy and sweet to the woman that they love...after all, it's Valentines Day!
But why should this event only occur once a year? Is it really a declaration of love that you are recieving from your beloved?
A man who is forced by centuries of tradition and media pressure to declare through gifts or letters, his love, devotion, or attraction to another. He can't really say he was compelled to do so by real love.
Likewise if you do not have a significant other and are completely unattached, Valentine's Day will only highlights the fact that you are alone.
Here are a couple of facts about the rather obscure history of Valentines Day:
Some experts state that it originated 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 that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".
Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
Another Idea is that Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.
Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270.
At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.
So in regards to this holiday:
Yes, my collection of teddy bears has grown significantly in the last few years
Yes, I do love getting flowers and chocolates from D.
Yes, I do love declerations of love and affection. .
Yes, I love dinner with candles and soft music and
Yes, with a holiday like this, romance cannot be said to have died out completely...
But the deciding point for me, is that I have a man who cares and treats me to these things throughout the year. Not just on a day that has been decided world wide, to be the "acceptable" day for all the above things!
And in return, I also treat him. By take him out to lunch and supper and paying for it all, or buying something he's been wanting for awhile. Or giving him little snacks he loves when he's had a bad day....heck, even writing an sms (or text) to let him know how much I love and miss him when we haven't seen each other for a while.
So I suppose the underlying message in this post, is guys, don't make this commercial holiday the only time in the year where you show your woman how much she means to you, keep it consistent, and heartfelt.
And women, show your men that you appreciate and support them throughout the year.
After all, a relationship goes both ways.
Until next time,
Daughter of Dreams
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