Love is in the Air

FEBRUARY is romantic love month. It came from a Latin word ‘februa’ which means to make pure or clean. Long time ago, the Festival of Februa was focused on the rite of repentance. Lupercalia, a feast of fertility and fruitfulness, was also celebrated during this season. It could have been connected to the Lupercal Caves in Palatine Hill where Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, were said to have been raised by a female wolf.

For Filipinos, the most popular celebration of the month is Valentine’s Day. Violet and primrose are the significant flowers and the lucky stone is amethyst. Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with St. Valentine. Probably, it is linked with Lupercalia festival that falls on February 15 or it is connected with the mating season of the birds. The celebration is also associated with Cupid, the Roman god of love and the counterpart of Greek god Eros. Cupid was a playful young man and son of Aphrodite, the goddess of sensual love and beauty. He was mischievous and he could shoot anyone with his arrow of passion.

Just like Christmas, Valentine’s Day exists because of us and business. It’s fun to wear red and exchange cards to remember romantic relationships. Lovers and pseudo lovers send each other roses, chocolates, text messages, gifts, and kisses (as the case may be). It is good business for hotels (or lodging houses), transportation, restaurants and department stores. Movie houses are fully loaded and those who have small budget simply stroll at the park. What could be beyond those is no longer within my comprehension.

Seriously, the celebration of love should not be emphasized on February only. Human beings like the other animals can be consistently romantic also (not just seasonal). Love is a sublime feeling marinated with affection. Anyone can even love someone who is unlovable. Love can be philosophical and complicated. Love without criticism brings stagnation, and criticism without love brings destruction. Those who have mastered romantic love (especially husband and wife) would find love growing from their roots of life until they build a family that could be the fountain of their sustained love.

Love is universal. The French would say, “Love and smoke cannot be hidden.” (L’amouret la fumée ne peuvent se cacher). Italians believe that love rules without rules. (Amor reggesenzalegge). The Germans may find love the other way around. “The illusion is brief, the repentance long.” (der Wahnistkurz, die Reu’ istlang). For the Latin speaking people, love is a kind of military service (militiae species amorest). The Spaniards could be selective. “Love and prudence cannot go together. (Amar y saber no puedetodoser).

People looking through the eyes of love will always interpret love differently as shown in famous love stories: ‘The King and I’, ‘Dr. Zhivago’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Love Story’, ‘Ana Karenina’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and ‘Helen of Troy’ to name a few. Many lives have been sacrificed in the name of love. Huge assets have disappeared or forsaken in exchange of love. Many lovers have abandoned their kingdom or royalty for the sake of love. Some have committed suicide because they fall out of love. To some, death comes early because love died a natural death.

Love kills. Love inspires. Love resurrects. Love is not blind but also deaf because lovers cannot see and hear. Love could be viewed in all angles and it is worth the investment. You have to believe. Only love endures. Kingdoms crumpled. Governments vanished. Love perseveres!