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Monday, February 14, 2005
Nalzaro: All about Valentine’s Day
By Bobby Nalzaro
TODAY is the day of lovers. This is one of the special occasions that lovers eagerly wait for. But celebrating Valentine’s Day is not a monopoly for new and young lovers. Even couples who have been married a long time ago can celebrate this special day. But to some people who have been long engaged tend to forget and just take this day for granted.
But while lovers celebrate this very special occasion, only very few know how it started. Well, here’s a little background. Saint Valentine, the Patron of Lovers, was a holy priest from Rome. During the persecution of Emperor Claudius 11, he was arrested and beaten with clubs. The Prefect of Rome, finding his promises and tortures ineffectual, had Valentine beheaded on Feb. 14, 269 on the Flaminian way.
In 350, a church was built in his honor on the site where he died. The name Valentine signifies valor, and for many centuries lovers appealed to him for courage and strength when facing difficulties in their love affairs. The custom of sending love letters on Feb. 14 is based on the belief that birds, after a long winter abstinence from lovemaking, begin to pair on St. Valentine’s Day.
Most of the items linked to Valentine’s Day come from old-fashioned customs that used handkerchiefs and floral bouquets to pass on non-verbal messages. When the custom went out of style for everyday use, the original meaning was lost and eventually they became part of the Valentine’s Day tradition.
Giving flowers dates back to the 1700s when Charles 11 of Sweden introduced the Persian custom of the “language of flowers” to Europe. The rose, which has always been a popular flower, became the traditional Valentine’s Day flower. The meaning of the red rose is still well known as the flower of passion and love.
The red rose is also the favorite flower of Venus, the goddess of love in Greek mythology, which helped give the rose its symbolic meaning. Centuries ago, a woman would drop her handkerchief in front of the man she liked. This was a form of encouragement to him. And if he picked it up for her, an introduction could be made. The lace, on the other hand, has always been part of women’ handkerchiefs as it has been linked to romance.
Cupid is also one of the prominent symbols of this occasion. He is the winged child who shoots arrows into the hearts of potential lovers. His victims are supposed to fall deeply in love with someone. In both Greek and Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love, and is always part of the celebration of love and lovers. So, Happy Valentine’s to all and enjoy your date with your loved ones.
(Bobby(at)sunstar(dot)com(dot)ph/09193181404)
(February 14, 2005 issue)
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