By Sayeh Woodman — Something I’ve noticed this time round at our neck of the woods in England, this Valentines Day, the theme is combining love, food and words together, which is clever and cute. I guess it’s like the fashion scene, forever changing and knowing what’s in at the moment, this Valentines that is the in thing in terms of gifts.
I haven’t come across a guy that doesn’t love steak. For Valentines Day cook him a steak and place a little toothpick flag or card that says Love me Tender!
Where has the tradition gone — Valentines Day was all about declaring your love for someone that you were too scared to tell in person. To put a smile on their face. To live in hope for your dreams to come true. To be anonymous.
It’s become too commercial — more about the gifts, than the actual intent and feeling of giving or declaring your love for someone.
For me, I love this day — although in general I have way too much love to give on a daily basis. It’s like Christmas — everyday should be full of love and joy. Why wait for a national day to define it. I do get my friends little treats, and my daughter. Since when did it become like that, but I’m such a sucker for Valentines Day. I love it!
Where did the day come from though, till this day I still don’t know? So I had a nosy and did some
research.
Here’s the lowdown and history — there’s quite a few reasons, backing the day up which is interesting. There isn’t a definite one story... so cut a long story short and not to get stuck in the thick of it — here are the different reasons for love day — pick which one you like!
It came from the Saint Valentine or the feast of Saint Valentine — honouring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and it is this that was then recognised as a significant cultural and commercial celebration.
Other research suggests that, Saint Valentine during his imprisonment for performing weddings for soldiers, healed the daughter of his prison mate and wrote her a letter ‘Your Valentine’.
On the literary front, the day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
Cupid’s arrow, an angel that fired an arrow that hit Saint Valentine in the heart and found him love, is also another story.
Choose your story, choose your romantic gesture or gift for your loved one, and may you both live happily ever after.
Single... well there’s only one thing to do on this special day... well two but going out with your single mates doesn’t quite cut it!
Ill be buying myself two boxes this Valentines Day — a box of chocolates, and a box of tissues. I curl up on the sofa in my pjs... blubbering away! Have I set the scene well. Haha! That’s the done thing to do this Valentines Day if you’re single!
— sayehwoodman@outlook.com
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