Happy Valentine’s Day ladies. Today is February 14th and the whole world is celebrating Love – an emotion that makes some people happy and blinds others.
On this occasion, men and women try to make their partners feel more special by taking them out for dinner, giving them gifts, serenading them with love songs or planning a trip.
Are you already imagining a bunch of red roses and heart-shaped balloons? Are you looking forward to receiving gifts and proclamations of love today? Do you expect to be engaged today to the love of your life? You are not alone.
Love is beautiful. It can be so romantic to be shown love in a special way by that person your heart beats for. It feels good to be told sweet romantic words and to cuddle with the one you love.
But you should know that the history of the day of love is a bit dark and bloody. Let’s take a look at how this special day came into existence. There are some things you should know about Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day origin
Back in 3rd century AD, under Roman Emperor Claudius II, marriages were banned. The Emperor, who had to keep a strong army, believed that single men were better soldiers.
A clergyman, Saint Valentine didn’t agree with the Emperor’s view. He covertly helped Christian couples in love solemnise their marriages.
After the Emperor learned of this, he ordered that Saint Valentine be imprisoned and beheaded. The sentence was executed on February 14.
The date of Saint Valentine’s beheading coincided with the feast of Lupercalia, a pagan fertility ritual.
As years passed by and Rome became Christian, the Catholic Church scrapped Lupercalia and declared February 14 Saint Valentine’s Day.
Gradually, February 14 became a date for expressing love and admiration. This custom, with time, spread throughout Europe and then to several parts of the world.
Today’s significance
In recent times, Valentine’s Day has become an important cultural and commercial occasion all over the world even though there are no rules to celebrate it.
People in various cultures in different parts of the world have developed their own traditions around the day of love.
In Nigeria, Valentine’s Day is a big deal to many ladies. They look forward to the day with joy and anticipation of receiving gifts, engagement rings and marriage proposals.
In some places, Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a day to make family and friends feel special, while in others, people find unique ways to shower their romantic partners with love.
A candlelight dinner, an engagement, a movie date, gifts or Valentine’s Day party are some ways to celebrate love on 14th February.
Some married couples spend the day evaluating their marriages and retake their wedding vows. Some people celebrate the day by giving gifts to children on hospital beds and in orphanages.
In the present time of social media trends, Valentine’s Day has gone more viral. As people try to show their imagined best self on social media platforms, the unique and innovative ways to celebrate this day of love have increased.
Valentine’s Day has also become a way to some people to make money. Business is booming with different online platforms offering different services to lovers who wish to surprise their partners.
There are businesses who offer food trays and drinks for a price. Some people sell perfumes, love hampers and sex toys to lovers. Others provide private dinner and lunch services to their clients just to make the day special.
Whether we like it or not, Saint Valentine’s Day is here to stay. For some of us who are booless, we stay indoors, eat, drink, watch our favorite TV series, dance to our favorite songs, sleep, wake up and repeat.
In all, life is good. Even if you don’t have a lover, celebrate yourself. Love yourself. Take yourself out if you can afford it. Toast to life and look forward to being with the love of your life next year.
Love. Live. Laugh.