"Amor gignit amorem"—Love creates love. To the surprise of many, the legend of saint valentine was not derived from singing cards or printed sugar candies—it has a much coarser origin.
The Beloved Roots
The Catholic Church sainted a priest by name of Valentine for his brave defiance against the Emperor Claudius II of Rome back in the third century. The emperor had decided single men made better soliders than those with attachments, and so he outlawed marriage. The priest, Valentine, married couples in secret under the emperors rule, and was eventually executed for it. It was a truly romantic operation—forbidden love, secret matrimony, a martyr for young lovers—but somehow the history evolved into this commercial holiday for waxy chocolates and cheaply made bears that wheeze 'I love you'.
Modern Romance
I believe that St. Valentines Day is very important to our society. It is the only holiday that really focuses on love, human to human. People like to be thought about, they like to be surprised, they like a little vulnerability. Instead of treating the holiday as a chore by dragging yourself to CVS in the freezing wet weather, or rebelling against the holiday as a whole, complaining "it's a scheme", allow yourself to see it through new eyes. The littlest “You’re my favorite” note can make a bigger impression on someone than the largest box of Whitman’s. While you might believe major businesses exploit the holiday and diminish it's meaning, use the oppurtunity to support small businesses while buying thoughtful and and less "standard" gifts for those who you appreciate.
Some things I have given over the years:
A funny doodle
Favorite baked goods
A personal note, dated, and signed
A favorite book with a To:/From: on the inside cover
A tangible photo with a message on the back
Localized Love
As a foodie, I naturally make it a must to dress up and go out to dinner, because I like the excuse. I also use this as a good excuse to pick out some appropriately shiny new jewelry from Bella Luna for my night out (with a note “To myself, I love you too—Me”). My advice is to make reservations well before-hand at restaurants in town, because I am not the only one who likes a nice dinner. In fact, a lot of the restaurants reopen for spring on this day, so why not celebrate the coming end of off-season as well? Soon the warmth of velvet hearts will be replaced with the warmth of the sun and sand, and who wouldn’t love that.
Xoxo,
Kateland
