Glimpses

Monday, February 13, 2012

Valentine's Day: What Does it Mean to You? (GBE2-WK39)

The topic for this weeks GBE2 Bloggers is "Do-Over", appropriate for a time when most might be over-doing their chocolate consumption (wipes her lip with a grin). This seems like an appropriate time, and topic to drag out a post I wrote in 2009 on Valentine's Day. It would probably be fair to tell you that I have been celebrating this day as "Singles Awareness Day" for many years now, and am too much a realist to believe in fairytale happily ever afters, or that roses have magickal powers that are distributed in the name of "love" on Valentine's Day. I've been known to spoil the tenderest romantic moment with a blast of realistic perspective, this will be no exception.

Please understand that I believe in spiritual love, the kind that tethers two people no matter where they are, or what they are doing. But I am a realist that researches topics like they are food required for sustaining life... for me Valentine's Day will remain Singles Awareness Day.






Commercially presented as a day to celebrate love and romance, Valentine’s Day conjures up images of roses, chocolate and scanty lace dainties.  It provides an intimate backdrop for candle lit celebrations and next to naked gyrations.  But where did it all start?
In an online article written for National Geographic, John Roach traces it back to the pagan rituals of Roman festivals where “where men stripped naked, grabbed goat- or dog-skin whips, and spanked young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility” (Professor Noel Lenski of the University of Colorado).  The annual event is called Lupercalia and was held every 15th of February into the 5th century A.D. (Roach, 2009).  
If you would like to read the rest of the article you can check out the link here:   http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090211-valentines-day-gifts-history.html
You could call me a bit of a skeptic (or just a research nerd) when it comes to what I find on the web and simply accept it as truth is risky at best.  So I did a bit more checking around to see if the information was similar in more scholastic journals and found that there is a general consensus among historians that Valentine’s Day is indeed a pagan festival, but the actual traditions vary according to interpretation.  
In the recent edition of Library Media Connection’s periodical, D. Jackson Maxwell brought to light a bit of the history of Valentine’s Day from another perspective in his story:
In Roman times, the festival of Lupercalia was held on February 15th. The fertility celebration honored Faunus, the god of agriculture, and originally was held in hopes of ensuring good crops. Over time, the tradition evolved to where partners for the celebrations were chosen by drawing names. Later, two saints named Valentine (Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni) were connected to the date by being Christian martyrs, killed by Roman emperors on February 14th, the eve of Lupercalia. Stories of romance are linked to both Valentines, including a claim that one married lovers despite an imperial ban. Eventually, the Catholic Church honored these men by proclaiming them saints (Maxwell, 2009).
Saint or sinner… serious or sensual, most people will be thinking about Valentine’s Day and what they are, or are not doing that day and with whom. I wonder how cupid got pulled into this mess… hmmm looks like I have some more reading to do, but not tonight it’s time for nursing of the glass teat, then between the sheets.  Enjoy your day however you may!
GrinZ and saunters off thinking about veggie sushi.

References
D Jackson Maxwell (2009, January). Valentine's Day: A Brief History and Game. Library Media Connection, 27(4), 34.  Retrieved February 12, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1630085761).
Roach, John D. (2009, February). Valentine's Day Facts: Gifts, History, and Love Science. National Geographic News. Retrieved February 12, 2009 from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090211-valentines-day-gifts-history.html

34 comments:

  1. Well now, aren't you the romantic! LOL I am not, believe it or not, a Valentine fan. I have always thought it is a day to 'buy' stuff to say that you love someone. My roomy loves me every day and does lots of things that tell me that. He also tells me every single day and I never let a day pass without that ritual. We also never let a day together pass without a kiss. Some days we aren't together, so the kiss has to wait.
    I have been single on Valentine's Day and I have worked with singles on that day and that is enough to make me dislike it, just a bit. I hate anything that makes being single and not in a relationship a bad thing. If not bad, exaggerate the lonely aspect. I was not lonely when I was single, except on that day. I felt like such a SINGLE entity. Not being a part of a couple never mattered to me because I didn't know who I wanted the other half to be, so being single was way better. I actually liked being single. Except on Valentine's Day.
    Now I tell my roomy every year, it's not a holiday I care anything about. I know how special I am to him and that's quite enough.

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    1. ;-) yes, that's me rooooomantic! Heh, actually I am, but more like you described in your response. I prefer to let the people in my life that I cherish know it on a regular basis, rather than carving a day out of the calendar to remind me to.

      The little rituals you talk about mean much more to me. A fond memory of someone I shared a part of my life with were sticky notes. He would put them in different places every day, and I would too. They had little "I love you's" or something as silly as "Enjoy your sandwich" in a lunchbox on them. They made each day special.

      I agree with you Jo, when you said "I hate anything that makes being single and not in a relationship a bad thing. If not bad, exaggerate the lonely aspect." It does exaggerate the singles in ways that are less than comfortable. Thus, the celebration of "Singles Awareness" was birthed!

      BTW... I am glad you have a really kewl roomy ;-)

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  2. If that's the sort of thing that goes on on Valentine's Day, maybe you should be glad to be single. My husband never found out about the Lupricalia ritual... sounds kinky. ;)

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/

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    1. LOL, leave it to you Joyce! ;-)

      ...and just for the record, I am happy to be single!

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  3. I love the concept of Singles Awareness Day. That's such soothing balm for my soul on Valentine's day. Thank you.

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    1. Sure thing Suzy! Enjoy it for yourself! (and if that doesn't work picture all those silly pagan men running around with strange things on them;-)

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  4. We never remember our anniversary, we don't brave the crowds for Valentines and we often screw up our age, but, our birthdays are a week apart and we celebrate the whole damned month. Love the historical tidbits. Fascinating!

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    1. I love that! Celebrations are a great way to enjoy the moments we are making!

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  5. Singles Awareness Day, great name, but I even reject that. If it weren't for inner action with those affected by the disorder this silly day would pass me by annually without notice. Thank God for it's passing now we can move on to the important things in life, which ice cream I'll have tonight. Hhahahahha

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  6. Thanks for the history lesson. And I'm with Gene Pool Diva - celebrate or don't celebrate - whatever works for you!

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  7. Very interesting. Although I go through the motions of celebrating, Valentines Day doesn't come close to the importance of Christmas or Thanksgiving for me. Even the 4th of July is more exciting. Very informative and interesting. Great blog!!!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you Kathy, I'm glad you got something from it :-)

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  8. Happy Single Awareness Day! Bravo for blogging about the historical origin of it. Sometimes, to some people, Valentine's Day must be a good time to stop for awhile from our busy schedules and show affection to the people around us but commercialization of it sometimes get in the way of its true meaning.

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    1. I think it's good enough reason for most people... :-) Thank you for enjoying the historical aspect with me!

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  9. For me, valentines day is helping kids make something, in the classroom. Happy Singles Awareness Day K! Is chocolate on the menu?

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    1. heheh.. actually I took a couple dozen cupcakes into class today d~... Devil's food ;-)

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  10. I say make every day a day to celebrate, however you see fit. Love your perspective. And now I am craving sushi!

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    1. Thanks Maria, I crave sushi on a regular basis anymore... I've made the California rolls, so how hard can it be to change ingredients right??

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    1. That's enough for me Claudia, thank you for coming by!

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  12. I always enjoy nicely written informative posts, that's why I love you.
    Pam

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    1. Oh, thank you Pam! That's a compliment and encouragement all in one :-)

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  13. I enjoyed your post--and actually just read that story to my daughter about the "Valentine" that married the couple behind bars a few weeks ago. It was a fictional piece related to that same story you mentioned.

    I'm married for 16 years now--and I've known my hubby even longer. February 14th is really just another day in our book. Sometimes it turns out romantic sometimes we have to deal with every day life with the kids. I'm just happy that I've married him--that he loves me--and that we've got a great marriage. The rest of the hoopla surrounding the day--really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

    Cheers, Jenn.

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    1. Thank you Jenn for the post. Congratulations on finding someone to share your life with! That's really what it's all about any way. When a relationship is healthy, each day is part of the magick.

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  14. That was a fun read. I knew about the pagan stuff (well I would, wouldn't I *wink*) but I didn't know there were two St. Valentine's! So... did you ever do any more research on Cupid...?

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    1. heheh... yes, you would ;-)

      Not yet Mojo, I get busy enough that I lose sight of the things that drew me in when they don't add to what I am currently working on. It will probably be next Valentine's before I think about that little guy with the arrow... and MAKE looking a priority. Glad you enjoyed the read!

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  15. I've been married for all of my adult life and though romantic gestures are nice (and I'm not about to push away the box of Godiva truffles), it's in the everyday that we most show our love for one another.

    Nice take on this week's topic!

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    1. LOL, many people I know would be right there to snatch those truffles up if you did! I agree with you, the everyday moments are the ones that really matter to me too.

      Thank you, for the visit!

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  16. Is it gone???? testing 1 2 3 ♥

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    1. Thank you Jo! :-) After thinking it was last time, it's nice to be sure now! hehhehe

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  17. I hear you and I second you--roses, candy, chocolate and sexy nightmare--hogwash! But then I should confess I'm not much of a believer of romantic love. I don't think people fall in love, in lust, maybe, but the "love" is short-lived. After all, isn't love just supposed to be some chemical imbalance in the brain? hee hee! I love your concept of Singles Awareness Day! Love it! :)

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    1. Thanks gypsyroxylee, words have to have their definitions before they mean much of anything to me. "Love" is one of those, ask a million, get a 1/2 million different responses words. People have to start with communication and then work the details out between them.

      Thank you much for stopping by!

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I appreciate your comments, and constructive criticism is welcome!

“To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there.”

- Richard Bach

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