The Celebration that is Valentine's Day

The Celebration that is Valentine's Day

I like to think of myself as a romantic, that is someone who has an idealized and sentimental take on the world, so what is it about Valentine's Day that sends me into a maelstrom?

As a young girl, I still remember the angst I felt when once again, the arrival of our post, signalled the end to all my hopes and dreams of receiving my first card. How would I be able to face my school friends? To make matters worse, most of my peers received not one but two cards! I know it sounds ridiculous but I'm a sensitive girl.

There are 11 million single people in the UK and by the year 2010 that figure will steadily rise to 16 million. Now most of these people may be perfectly content in their singledom but the advent of Valentine's Day must make some feel a tad wistful. What about couples whose relationships are going through a bad patch? Does the day bring even more problems by placing a bigger burden on what is already a fragile relationship? How about the enormous pressure we girls unconsciously place on our men to produce something special! It's at this time of year that I really feel for our opposite numbers as expectations run high and god help them if they get it wrong!

The romance of the occasion has all but disappeared and in its place stands the ugliness that is commercialism and consumerism. Everywhere you look there is a profusion of pink and red hearts, balloons, cards and expensive gifts that scream "buy me". Most people do not wish to be told on a specific day that they should expound their love for their partner by the way of expensive gifts, chocolates or roses.

Around one hundred and eighty eight million Valentine's cards are exchanged annually worldwide, with 85% of these cards being purchased by women? That's a lot of romance buzzing around the world but from these figures it's clear to see that the female of the species favours it more than men.

The jury is still out as to the originator of Valentine's Day but many theories abound. The most popular being 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 who became known as the patron saint of lovers. It was originally a time to exchange messages of love. The diarist Samuel Pepys in February 1667 described receiving from his wife a blue paper with her name written in gold letters. This became the precursor of latter day Valentine cards. As for the giving of cards, Esther Howland of Massachusetts sent the first Valentine card in the 1840's.

On the plus side the celebrating of such traditions keeps the economy booming as many businesses depend on such occasions in order to survive. It also keeps people gainfully employed. At a time when we are constantly being bombarded by images of war and destruction and in fear of becoming sanitized, it can only be a good thing for us to set aside an entire day to the celebration of love.

So let's mark the day in a positive way by expanding the occasion to include all those that we love. In this way, we extend the day to everyone we care about and because of their uniqueness, are special to us.


Linzi Beuselinck
www.femininezone.com