(saint) valentine's day

as a special request, here is my valentines day blog.  i'm trying to give the holiday the most positive outlook i can and i don't want to do latin homework as usual....

february 14, "valentine's day" - a day all single ladies (and boyfriends) dread.  so much pressure is put on this day to love, show affection, go on the perfect date, give chocolate, flowers, teddy bears, blah blah blah.  if you're single, you are left with candy and chocolates from your mom.  if you are in a relationship, you have to set aside all of your plans to do anything to spend time with your lover.  but whyyyy? what is this valentines day? it wasn't just made my hallmark, it actually has (some) history.

i researched valentines day on wikipedia (frankly, because i don't think this day is important enough for extensive research).  it was originally called "st. valentine's day".  any catholic knows that practically every day of the year has a saint dedicated to it.  

there are three known christian martyrs named valentine and all, coincidentally, were martyred on february 14.  sometimes i question the history of the catholic church... ANYWAY.  there are a bunch of legends about the st. valentines and their association with valentine's day.  one of the legends, in short, goes like this:

st valentine was living under the roman empire around the 3rd centuary AD when emperor claudius II was ruler.  the emperor decided that all single, young men made better soldiers than those with families and children because they were emotionally attached and therefore "weaker men".  Emperor Claudius banned marriage so they were forced into service.  Valentine, a priest, disagreed with Emperor Claudius and defied him by performing secret marriages for young lovers.  Claudius II eventually finds out and sentences Valentine to death.  St. Valentine now has a day dedicated to him, February 14 (the anniversary of his death/burial).  poor st. valentine, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.  

this story seems to have little to do with chocolate and flowers and teddy bears, but more to do with standing up for autonomy and young love.  

so, this is my st. valentine attempt at standing up for young love and the idea of valentine's day (sorry all my single ladies).

i've spent many years being angry and bitter at valentine's day, but i realized, i get more satisfaction completely ignoring the day and idea all together.  no one likes being ignored, especially not the hallmark company.  plus, i woke up with an epiphany (mainly when i saw the heart shaped doughnuts from my mom, chocolate candy galore from my family, and the pink lights in my common room) - why do i need a "lover" to really appreciate valentines day?  why can't i just love the people around me, and especially, why can't i love myself?  there is no need for the self-loathing and bitterness all day.  i've been listening to 'teenage dream' and having my own little chocolate thanksgiving all day with my friends whom i love. what's wrong with that? if i had a lover/boyfriend/partner, i'd just be having thanksgiving with 1 other person and that's not fun.  thanksgiving is for celebrating with everyone.  so on valentine's day, we should be loving ourselves and celebrating our chocolate thanksgiving with our closest friends.  plus, red's a nice color, i like wearing red and today gives me an excuse to do so.

if this doesn't make you feel better, i can guarantee, every single person has a legitimate valentine before they die.  it seems inevitable. don't get upset, one day, all my single ladies, we will have valentines, and it'll be as perfect as you want it to be.

if you still hate it, ignore it. don't celebrate it.  but, it's hard to ignore when there are decorations everywhere? so.. there are always christmas decorations everywhere and those who don't celebrate it/hate it deal with it.  it's just another holiday.

if none of that makes you feel better.. think of it this way: today is the day for couples, but every friday and saturday is our day.. the day, night, and morning for singles ;-)

happy chocolate thanksgiving/valentines/red/whatever day.  

as for now.. all my single ladies, all my single ladies, put your hands up