Saint Valentine’s Day, more popularly known as Valentine’s day or feast of Saint Valentine is observed on February 14 every year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world. But do we really know him and how he became the saint that we honor and from which Valentine’s Day was named after? Maybe only a few does. Well, Saint Valentine officially known as Saint Valentine of Rome, is a third-century Roman Saint commonly associated with “Courtly Love”. He was ordered beaten, stoned and beheaded by Emperor Claudius II because he helped Christian couples to wed at a time when Roman law forbade young people from marrying. Saint Valentine sacrificed his life so that young couples could be bonded together in holy matrimony. Even centuries after his death, the story of Valentine’s self-sacrificing commitment to love was legendary in Rome. Eventually, he was granted sainthood and the Catholic church decided to create a feast in his honor, the Valentine’s Day that we celebrate yearly on February 14. They picked this date as the day of celebration because of the ancient belief that birds began to mate on that very day.
We all know that Valentine’s day is celebrating romantic affection and love. This day has been associated with love and this started sometime in the 14th century, which is almost 1000 years right after Saint Valentine’s death. Initially, Valentine’s Day was mainly for couples because it was for them that Valentine was martyred. But, growing up, I think that it should not be that way. Valentine’s Day should not only be for couples and lovers, but, for everyone. Love is not only confined to them. Love is universal. There are different kinds of love and at different levels, depending on whom we are giving that love. There is love for parents, for siblings, for family, for friends, for the people around us, the environment, the planet that we live in, and the love for our God. Valentine’s day is not only for erotic love, instead it should be the time to show our love and appreciation to all the people we love. It is the day to express our feelings and renew the bond of love we share with them. The gift of Valentine’s day is to contribute to charities or act as volunteers for a particular organization, a good example of this is the Blood-letting activity of the Phil. National Red Cross in cooperation with the different Local Government Units, wherein healthy and capable people donate a portion of their blood to be used by people who are in need of blood at some point in their lives.
Valentine’s day is associated
with flowers and chocolates for personal romance; however helping others in
different ways is going to make the day of romance and love more complete.
Spread love and make everyday a Valentine’s Day.
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