As Dr. Newbold so conspicuously mentioned in our Course Announcements, today is indeed Valentines Day, and men all over the world have been reluctant to take note. Many look at this as a “Hallmark Holiday”, a commercial holiday that businesses exploit to make a substantial profit. According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentines Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. Even through all this marketing and publicity there lies some truth behind this profit-driven holiday.
St. Valentines Day, as we know it today, contains traces of both Christian and Roman tradition. So who is this Saint Valentine and how is he associated with this pervasive holiday? There are many tales and stories surrounding this man, but only one of these fables has become widely accepted preached today.
The legend allegedly claims that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When the emperor, Claudius II, concluded that single men made for better soldiers than those with families, he outlawed marriage for young men – his target group of potential soldiers. Valentine, who realized this grave injustice, challenged the emperor’s ruling and secretly continued to perform ceremonies of marriage for young lovers. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, the emperor ordered that he be put to death. He died a martyr for something sacred he believed to be a right, not a privilege.
There are many versions to this story, and some of the context could have very easily been lost in translation. The message however, is a very meaningful and powerful one. The next time a male complains about the relevancy of a seemingly insignificant holiday such as this, you will reflect on the story of Saint Valentine and the ultimate sacrifice he made for the impalpable: love.
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