Its love day again...

“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, and then you must forget the rules and play from your heart.”
-Unknown

That time of year is around once again for people to go to the stores and get their girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, fiancées, fiancés… some form of gifts either chocolates, perfumes or a bunch of flowers to celebrate that thing we call love. A time when many people search out romantic quotes and sayings about love for a Valentine’s Day card, a scrapbook, or even a love letter.


If you are somewhat single, then Valentine’s Day may not be the greatest time of the year for you. Seeing other people celebrating their love can make one a bit envious. However, don’t be let down. Lift your sagging spirits by seeing some movies, buying yourself a box of chocolate or cake or read some valentine’s quotes and dream of your own happily-ever-after….lol


A lot of people have different opinions about valentine though, we have heard about some jailer that joined people and another a priest, I don’t know which of the story is really true but I do know that as innocent and harmless as St. Valentine’s Day appears, according to its roman’s traditions and customs it originated from two of the most sexually perverted pagan festivals of ancient history: Lupercalia (known as the “festival of sexual license”) and the feast day of Juno Februata, Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia was held by the ancient Romans in honour of Lupercus, god of fertility and husbandry, protector of herds and crops, and a mighty hunter—especially of wolves.


To the Romans, February was sacred to Juno Februata, the goddess of febris (“fever”) of love, and of women and marriage. On February 14, billets (small pieces of paper, each of which had the name of a teen-aged girl written on it) were put into a container. Teen-aged boys would then choose one billet at random. The boy and the girl whose name was drawn would become a “couple,” joining in erotic games at feasts and parties celebrated throughout Rome. After the festival, they would remain sexual partners for the rest of the year. This custom was observed in the Roman Empire for centuries.


According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “There are at least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, mentioned in early martyrologies under the date of 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), and these two seem both to have suffered in the second half of the third century and to have been buried on the Flaminian Way, but at different distances from the city…Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing is further known.” Several biographies of different men named Valentine were merged into one “official” St. Valentine.


So I am so confused here and I really don’t know where the idea of setting aside a special day to celebrate love came from, am not against love trust me, in fact am a sucker for love…I just don’t think it’s okay to celebrate love once in a whole 365 days, when we can celebrate love everyday of the year…hmm, that does not mean am not going to celebrate this valentine though…because I have some pretty cool plans…


While I was researching about valentine, I noticed that cupid was the general representation of valentine’s day, Cupid, comes from the Latin verb cupere, meaning “to desire.” Cupid was the son of Venus, Roman goddess of beauty and love. Also known as Eros in ancient Greece, he was the son of Aphrodite. According to myth, he was responsible for impregnating numerous goddesses and mortals. Cupid was a child-like archer. Mythology describes Cupid as having both a cruel and happy personality. He would use his invisible arrows, tipped with gold, to strike unsuspecting men and women, causing them to fall madly in love. He did not do this for their benefit, but to drive them crazy with intense passion, to make their lives miserable, and to laugh at the results. Somehow I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon…lol


Over the centuries, St. Valentine’s Day cards became popular, it has become highly commercialised according to statistics, It is said that 25% of all cards produced each year are actually Valentine’s Day cards.


After all the history class I have given, here is where I stand: I do not believe in setting out a special day annually for some guy to show me he loves me…I want our love to be celebrated everyday… I don’t believe in some guy commercializing his sentiments for me… I don’t need a special day for the words “I Love You” to be proven to me. I want it proven everyday in the things we do for each other, celebrate it in our laughter and treasure it in moments that a Valentine’s Day card or gift can never fully represent…but for history and tradition’s sake this little poem is dedicated to everyone.

“Valentine treasures are people who
have often crossed your mind,
family, friends and others, too,
who in your life have shined
the warmth of love or a spark of light
that makes you remember them;
no matter how long since you’ve actually met,
each one is a luminous gem,
who gleams and glows in your memory,
bringing special pleasures,
and that’s why this Valentine comes to you:
You’re one of those sparkling treasures!
By Joanna Fuchs