What is Valentine’s Day, and why do we even celebrate it? Is it just a capitalist holiday whereby couples are obligated to buy one another gifts, flowers, handwritten cards, jewelry, and chocolates to express their love for one another?
Prior to researching more about Valentine’s Day, I believed it was just a day to show your love by buying gifts, and I had heard something about St. Valentine as well.
The origins of Valentine’s Day remain a bit of a mystery and are still debatable.
However, it is believed that there were multiple St. Valentine’s during the time of the Roman Empire. St. Valentine’s death dates back to around A.D. 270. The Catholic church recognized St. Valentine as a martyr, and he was venerated on February 14th by Pope Gelasius during the late 15th century.
Even though the story of St. Valentine is honored by Catholics and Christians, it is not perceived to correlate with the romantic Valentine’s Day as we celebrate it today. Instead, Geoffrey Chaucer, the English poet of the 14th century, authored the poem “The Parliament Fowls.” The poem is the earliest association between Valentine’s and romance. The nature of birds’ mating and their free will to pair is illustrated in the poem.
Although Valentine has historical ties that are more related to religion than romance, by the end of the 1400s, a “valentine” was considered a lover in a song or poem. And by the mid-1800s, the masses produced Valentine’s Day cards that were synonymous with the tradition of Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day isn’t an official federal holiday and is no longer an official Catholic holiday. But love is still celebrated by the romantics out there. And who doesn’t love love?
Celebrating Galentine’s Day has also become popular in the past decade. Galentine’s Day came about from the popular comedy show Parks and Recreation, whereby the main character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, celebrates Galentine’s Day with her best friend Anne Perkins, played by Rashida Jones. So you don’t have to be in a relationship to celebrate love. You can celebrate with your best girlfriends by going to dinner or hanging out at home together.
I remember as a kid; it was fun making Valentine cards or Valentine grams at school for friends. At my elementary school, you could buy Valentine's gram for fifty cents or a dollar and write a note to your friend or crush. You could keep it anonymous or sign your name, and it would be delivered on Valentine’s Day with a dum dum lollipop attached. As a kid, I also had fun buying Valentine’s Day cards from Target and getting candy for my friends.
If you happen to be celebrating Valentine’s Day alone this year, as I have many times before, make sure to show yourself all the love. You deserve it! I recommend ordering your favorite take-out or delivery, pouring a glass of wine, buying yourself chocolates or a yummy dessert, and watching your favorite movie.
Lastly, it’s never overrated to show someone that you care and love them. In a world where we are constantly busy and in a hurry, we forget to slow down and be with one another. Show your appreciation of the gift that is the people you love in your life every day, but especially because of Valentine’s Day. I never need a reason to celebrate the person I love. Though, it’s still a good reminder to love on your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife.
Affordable ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day:
Make a card at home
handwrite a card
Buy flowers
Buy strawberries and dip them in chocolate at home
Drink bubbly water
Cook your favorite meal at home
Order pizza in
Watch a movie at home together
Go for an evening walk together
Thank you so much for being here. What do you enjoy most if you celebrate Valentine’s Day? What has been the most memorable Valentine’s Day for you?
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