We’ve all heard about the Roman priest Saint Valentine who is fondly remembered on 14 February – the day he died – as a messiah of love who went against emperor Claudias to marry the soldiers in his army with their partners. You may read the real story of Saint Valentine.
There is a reason why Sheldon Cooper is my favourite character in Big Bang (well apart from Bazinga!). He totally resonates my sentiments about Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, has become far greater than an expression of love. It’s no more limited to the exchange of roses or chocolates. The smart marketeers out there have commercialised the concept of ‘love’ and packaged it by creating an emotional need in the minds of naïve consumers. Love is measured on this day not by the content of the heart, but by the fancy things one’s lover does. Right from restaurants having fancy (read overpriced) meals to Roses selling for 500% their cost price, Valentine’s Day is all about pomp and show. It’s about enticing the buyer and there are thousands of ways this is done. I’ve come to know recently that apparently there is a whole week’s activities associated with 14 February, with days like rose day, bear day etc. Is this really an expression of love or truck loads of crap that’s dumped on the consumers for businesses to flourish? Who are we kidding?
It’s a clichéd statement that love should be celebrated all year round, not be limited to a day. Love lies in the moments when you make your sweetheart feel special, the support you provide to each other, and the little things you do for each other on a daily basis. It’s about the efforts that you put in the relationship constantly, and cannot be limited to a day such as Valentine’s Day. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the celebration of love on this day; what I am against is the way love is commercialised on this day. And as smart people, you and I must comprehend this. Spoil your sweetheart crazy with gifts and experiences, but don’t associate them to this day. Being a die-hard romantic (whatever that means) I myself love the concept of love. What I absolutely abhor is overpaying for everything because it’s 14 February or the Valentine’s week for that matter!
Along with digging holes in the pockets of the couples in a romantic relationship; this day is brutal to the folks who have a ‘Single’ status in real life or – to add to the drama – on Facebook! These ‘Single’ souls are often left alone by their ‘couple’ peers for all that the V-day entails. To avoid being left out, some go for meaningless dates, some get snowed under the fact that they haven’t found love yet, and some others celebrate the day wishing friends and relatives (Really?!). Why not, love can’t be confined just to a romantic relationship, the latter argue. Like seriously people, please read the history behind why the day was recognised as Valentine’s Day. The saint is remembered because he used to go against the wishes of the emperor, to get men married to the women they loved. He was jailed and died on this day. There was nothing platonic about the ‘cause’ he stood for. Period. Didn’t mean to digress. The point still is that the rituals built around Valentine’s Day are peripheral and torment a section of the society. If you are sad about being alone on Valentine’s Day…just remember…no one loves you on the other days of the year either! 😉 Chill, it is better to be single than to be in a wrong relationship.
Do celebrate this day with your partner if you like, but detach yourself from the material things that this day does not stand for. Remember, the fabrics on which successful relationships are formed are friendship, trust and support. It is about the moments that you create for each other. And most of the times, simple gestures just do fine. 🙂
Cheers!
Love this a simple reminder