Saint Valentine’s day has become a hallmark holiday to celebrate love and affection between couples symbolically represented by hearts, cupid, chocolate, flowers, dinners and jewelry. People who do not have a companion (especially females) seem to be extremely hostile towards the day as if “participation is necessary if it is to be understood”(Leeuw, 12). People who are not participating in Valentine’s day often view it as “standing on display behind panes of glass, they (Valentines day) preserves a little of their weird, demonic nature” (Leeuw, 20). Many poems and songs are inspired because of Valentine ’s Day but the day as a whole can be observed as a dance. The “dances are independent activities which make the game of love possible”(Leeuw, 21). There are many different theories and stories of how Valentine’s Day became a holiday. According to the Roman legends St Valentine was persecuted by the Roman Emperor Claudius II because St Valentine was a Christian. The priest St. Valentine allegeable married Roman soldiers when a law was passed that young men should remain single so they would be better soldiers. The emperor interrogated St. Valentine himself and was so impressed by St. Valentines he tried to convert him to Roman paganism in order to spear his life. St. Valentine refused and instead tried to convert the emperor to Christianity, so eventually he was executed. St. Valentine was missed by many children who brought him flowers and cards which may be where the tradition of flowers and notes came from. During the St. Valentines jail time it is said he performed a miracle and healed the blind daughter of his jailer. The night St. Valentine was to be executed he wrote the first Valentine’s day card to the jailors daughter who he had befriended, healed and eventually fell in love with and the note was titled “From your Valentine.”
The common criticism of Valentine’s Day is that people should appreciate and show their partner love every day; so a specific holiday does not need to exist to pressure couples to dance. I agree that people in love should appreciate each other every day. At the same time I do not think that a dance should ever be persecuted or criticized. People are so incredible busy that they sometimes forget the purpose of dancing with their partner. This holiday reminds people of how special and how much they should appreciate their loved one. It is a dance that starts at breakfast in bed to actually wearing a dress at dinner. The last note that St. Valentine left was to a women he was in love with and he was celebrated and remembered because of his courageous desire to love and give others the gift of marriage. It is a little disappointing how much of a hallmark holiday Valentine’s Day has become because it should not be about the gifts, flowers or expensive meals. It is a dance that should stay pure and be about the partners in the dance. If someone does not have a partner the day will obviously not hold the same magic. There is no reason though that people cannot celebrate a more casual dance with beloved friends and enjoy the idea of love.
St. Valentines Day. Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India. Web. 14 February 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment