The history of Valentine’s Day is not without debate. There are several versions floating around and all admit they are not certain. There are a few commonly accepted stories, however. We do know that there was a Roman priest in the third century A.D. who defied the orders of then Roman Emperor Claudius II by conducting illegal marriages. At the time, the Roman Empire was nearing the end of its glorious 200 year heyday Pax Romana and Claudius, fearing the impending doom, needed to maintain a strong standing army to defend against all of the outsiders who stood in line to invade the most prosperous empire on the planet. Drafting married men was already illegal in the empire, thus, believing young single men would be most fit to serve, Claudius made it illegal for young men to marry. A dissenting priest named Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and continued to marry young lovers. He was jailed and later sentenced to death. This is where the story gets a little cloudy, as there are no records written about what really happened. Legend has it that during his time in jail, Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter and on the eve of his beheading wrote her a love note, signing it “Your Valentine.” In 500 A.D. the Pope declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day - a day to honor the spirit of Valentine by behaving like him and celebrating love. Again, it gets sticky here because there is more than one story and there are even three different St. Valentine’s that are debated. In addition, the celebration of Valentine’s Day which more closely resembles the current embodiment of the holiday really began in the Middle Ages during the height of the chivalrous knights with all of their poetry, flowers and ballads.
I like a holiday that celebrates love. I also like that in primary schools the kids are encouraged to bring in Valentine’s for everyone. Everyone deserves love, not only “lovers” but also friends and, I dare say, even foes (love thine enemy). But, as with everything in our modern world, where there is reason to celebrate, there is reason to make you think you need to buy a lot of stuff! I see this in high school. Walking around on Valentine’s Day in high school one definitely gets the impression that the more you have the more you are loved. When did every celebration become a contest of gifts? At least as long as I can remember. From birthdays to anniversaries to the fourth of July (and of course Christmas). If we’re not expected to give gifts, there is definitely an expectation to spend money to acknowledge some cause of celebration. But we can dial it back. How about this Valentine’s Day we celebrate love for the sake of love. Spread love to all who come into your wake with a cheery smile, or hand out small chocolate kisses to everyone you encounter. Put a secret thank you note in a coworker’s mailbox. Celebrate love in ways that don’t break your budget. Love for the sake of love. No one ever gets sick of being appreciated. No one regrets being told how much they are cared about. A thoughtful gesture doesn’t cost a thing, and has such great value. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Comments
Post a Comment