I have to ask for my own curiosity, how many of you like this day? And if you do, then what are the reasons that you truly like it? Be honest, please.
And if you care to take a peak, here is my opinion on the matter"
I speak only for myself when I say this, but Valentine's Day has become a mockery and that is why I hate it so. It began as the day a Saint was martyred because he believed in rituals and in the chance of love. In Roman times, Emperor Claudius the Cruel believed that men made better soldiers when they were not married or otherwise promised to someone. So, in his belief, he banned marriages and engagements and forbid the people to participate in a ceremony before the feast of Lupercalia in which the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.It was believed that this was the beginnings of the custom for man to choose a woman on this certain day, his "valentine."
This is the ritual that Claudius got rid of, but St. Valentine, along with St. Marius, thinking it unfair, proceeded to perform marriages in secret until he was caught and sentenced to death sometime around 270.
However, before he was executed, he sent the first Valentine to the jailor's daughter. He wrote her a letter and signed it, "Your Valentine" and that is a speculation as to how the custom arose.
Anyway, to make a rather long babble concise, this day is used to commemorate St. Valentine's sacrifice.
Then there's Cupid. In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love. Yes, he is most commonly depicted as a cartoon winged cherub in a diaper and yes, he is perhaps the most annoying of all because the idea of him makes it seem as though humans have no will of their own.
So, I think what I really want to say is, who gave anyone the right to make Valentine's Day about lovers and couples? Personally, I think it completely degrades the memory of someone who stood up for what he believed in and believed enough to risk his life for it. Like many other holidays, the true meaning has been overshadowed by the materialistic aspect of it.
***I know that most of the story behind Valentine's Day is speculated legend. I am not looking for an argument or clarification.***
I am aware that I jumped around a bit in that post and that it made no real sense...but perhaps you can decipher something from it. Your thoughts, please?
-Reve
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artistic