Valentine's Day, the day we celebrate today was created as a day when we celebrate the power of attraction leading to romance. It has a number of different bases from which it may have originated. There was St. Valentine, a Christian martyred in the fifth century, who was believed to have supported young couples in love despite the objection of their elders who thought young men shouldn't be married if they were needed for war, a practice that was common in the American military until recent generations. There was some basis for that thought since warriors, when called to battle, are required to put their mission ahead of all other things, including family obligations which are the natural follow-on from a male-female loving relationship.
And there was also the Roman festival Lupercalia, believed to be held as a right of fertility in the Roman world in February of each year. A highlight of the festival was is cutting a butchered animal hide and dipping the strip sections in the animal's blood and then using it to slap growing crops in the field as well as young single women as a blessing for fertility. Later on that same day these women had their names placed in a bowl and eligible young bachelor drew names and spent a year living together with their selected choice, after which many then married. This practice was ended in Europe by the Catholic Church, due to its celebration of the sexual union apart from marriage.
But whatever the true origination, we Americans have celebrated it for many generations as a time where males of all ages honor their wives or girlfriends with gifts of chocolate, flowers, pearls or diamonds and often so much more. Generally mothers are included for a gift due to their traditional preeminence as the glue that kept the young man's childhood on track at home. After all, dear old Dad was the principal income source in times past and spent many hours daily toiling for the family while Mom took care of the home front.
So join in the fun, fellas', and honor those women that are important to you and especially on this day when some special lady captured your heart. And ladies, you might want to remember than special fella' with a card and a kiss. So guys, take her out to dinner, be on your best behavior and smile, it's Valentine's Day. She knows what day it is even if you've forgotten, so rearrange your plans if you've forgotten if that's what it takes. If not, she'll remind you daily for the three hundred and sixty five days until it comes again. Consider yourself forewarned. Act accordingly.
And there was also the Roman festival Lupercalia, believed to be held as a right of fertility in the Roman world in February of each year. A highlight of the festival was is cutting a butchered animal hide and dipping the strip sections in the animal's blood and then using it to slap growing crops in the field as well as young single women as a blessing for fertility. Later on that same day these women had their names placed in a bowl and eligible young bachelor drew names and spent a year living together with their selected choice, after which many then married. This practice was ended in Europe by the Catholic Church, due to its celebration of the sexual union apart from marriage.
But whatever the true origination, we Americans have celebrated it for many generations as a time where males of all ages honor their wives or girlfriends with gifts of chocolate, flowers, pearls or diamonds and often so much more. Generally mothers are included for a gift due to their traditional preeminence as the glue that kept the young man's childhood on track at home. After all, dear old Dad was the principal income source in times past and spent many hours daily toiling for the family while Mom took care of the home front.
So join in the fun, fellas', and honor those women that are important to you and especially on this day when some special lady captured your heart. And ladies, you might want to remember than special fella' with a card and a kiss. So guys, take her out to dinner, be on your best behavior and smile, it's Valentine's Day. She knows what day it is even if you've forgotten, so rearrange your plans if you've forgotten if that's what it takes. If not, she'll remind you daily for the three hundred and sixty five days until it comes again. Consider yourself forewarned. Act accordingly.
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