February 16th, 2009
Your Turn: Belated Valentines
Although Valentine’s Day has come and gone, I wonder how many millions of dollars were spent on this “holiday” and how many people actually have an inkling as to its origins. From what I can glean on the world wide web, the beginnings of Valentine’s Day have to do with a Christian priest by the name of Valentine in third century Rome. Emperor Claudius II decreed that single men could not marry, as he believed that they made better soldiers than those with wives and children. The priest Valentine defied the decree and continued to marry young lovers in secret. This comes directly from History.com, the best of the articles I read in preparation for this blog post.
Another legend suggests that a man by the name of Valentine was locked up and had fallen in love with his jailer’s daughter, who had come to visit him. He sent her a note that said, “from your Valentine,” and perhaps that’s where the expression began. History.com goes on to list fertility rituals and states that the first Valentine is on display in a museum in Great Britain.
According to the Greeting Card Association, approximately one billion valentines are mailed each year. The is second only to Christmas where an estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent. Given our current recession the US Postal Service must have been thanking God for this celebration of love. One billion valentines indeed! What happened to the hand written note? Not to suggest that I want USPS to go out of business at all; I’m just saddened by how commercialized this and really all holidays have become. I’m irritated that I am pressured to spend money on people, at Christmas time, that I don’t really care for. And if one is really “loved” her boyfriend has to send roses? That’s a load of crap!
And really, Valentine’s Day is a sad, sad day for many a single woman who feels less worthy because she isn’t receiving roses, candy and being wined and dined on that day. And for what? It is just a day after all. A day that has been commercialized into meaning something that it doesn’t need to at all. I feel sorry for the boyfriends who couldn’t afford to send the roses or God forbid they forgot to come home with candy. Honestly, I think we all need to take a step back and look at the big picture. What’s really important and can’t it be conveyed with a simple “I love you?”
Your turn: What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day and other commercialized holidays?
February 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Valentine’s Day is silly. It’s a day for the “haves” to show off that they have a boyfriend, and the “have-nots” to wallow in self-pity.
For me, it’s usually the day before the candy goes on 1/2-off sale. I love those chocolate marshmallow hearts!
February 20th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
What has been said is true young Francis Stuart! I am one of these boyfriends who, happens to be madly in love with an amazing girl. Yet, the pressure of Valentine’s Day had a huge impact on me this year. Just to clarify, my young princess doesn’t seem like the high maintenance type who needs to be showered with materialistic surprises on Valentine’s Day. In fact, she is often signifying to me that affectionate effort and connection is all she ever needs in our relationship. But, somehow I continually find myself wanting to buy flowers and mushy B.S. in conjunction with the affection that I show her. I think it’s because I’m protecting my name from being slandered to her friends and that I’m concerned about keeping my “good boyfriend” title.