Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. I know for some, it can be depressing when we don’t have someone special to share the day with. I remember feeling that way many February 14th’s.
Why is that though? Is this special day really about romance, or simply love or genuine affection for our family members, friends, coworkers, community members, etcetera?
A school not far from home received a lot of heat recently for deciding to not celebrate Valentine’s Day in the school. Equity was the reason given – that not every parent can afford to buy candies and cards.
For one, you can literally buy packs of cards and candy at a dollar store for a couple of bucks, but I remember many homemade cards in my day and I never cared either way. The great thing about these celebrations was that there was a card for all of us and for the reporter that stated that giving everyone something is meaningless, they’ve missed the point of showing our love and care for our classmates.
The celebration of St. Valentine goes back to the third century – 201-300 AD, and recognizes St. Valentine of Terni who was beheaded for defying Emperor Claudius II of Rome’s orders. Claudius had outlawed young men getting married, stating they were more useful on the battlefield.
There is also a pagan festival called “dies februatus” which means “day of purification”, and February 14th was officially declared St. Valentine’s day by the pope, in 496 AD.
There was no evidence of the occasion being a romantic day however, until the 14th Century thanks to the poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Shakespeare joined the party in the 17th Century by referencing the day in Hamlet.
We honour our prophets, so why not the most powerful energy within – love. In all its magical forms.