Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Valentine's Day (Saint Valentine's Day): n February 14, celebrated in various American and European countries by the exchange of valentines or love tokens.
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(For you booksmart types--the expanded encyclopedia version)
Western European Christian holiday, originally the Roman feast of Lupercalia. It was christianized in memory of the martyrdom of St. Valentine in A.D. 270, who, in medieval times, came to be associated with the union of lovers under conditions of duress. The holiday is celebrated on Feb. 14th by the exchange of romantic or comic verse messages called “valentines.” The first commercial valentine greeting cards produced in the United States were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Today millions of such cards are sold annually.
No way around it, Valentine's Day truly has become a holiday of commercial importance... a HALLMARK occasion to say the least. But I can remember back to grade school, and how exciting, sweet and unprecocious Valentine's Day used to be as a child: Candy & sweets. Secret Admirers & Surprise Valentines. Flowers for the teacher. Paper doillie hearts for mom & dad. Visits from Cupid. And of course, boxes of those cutsie little Cartoon Valentines... some had super heros, others were sugar & spice. Half the fun was bugging mom to buy the coolest cards in class, the other fun was signing them and leaving notes until your fingers were numb. Such moving and uncomplicated Teachers were good about giving a list so nobody felt left out, and Mom was good about making sure that you didn't skip that weird kid in the back row nobody likes (you just gave them the "uncool" card). But at the end of the day, you left with a sugar high and a bookbag full of notes from your friends and classmates, and sometimes even the excitment of finding out that first puppy love secret admirer (My first Valentine and I later married in a ceremony atop the "Rocket Ship" in the playground... followed shortly after by a bitter war on the capture the flag field, and subsequent divorce.)
But now as an adult, I find myself reflecting fondly on the innocence of those years, yearning for that warm feeling that only 20-30 G.I. Joe or Barbie & Ken Valentines can bring. Compared to those years, Valentine's Day can be stressful as an adult, and for many, very disappointing. Now its about $50 a dozen roses, 1-2 hour waits for dinner, and stress of finding that perfect gift for your significant other. OR for singles, its a painful reminder of the absence of someone to share V-Day with.
So for those whom don't have a Valentine, or wish you had a cute G.I. Joe 2x3 card signed from that secret admirer in the 3rd row again, THIS VALENTINE IS FOR YOU.
Posted by Erica Ortiz on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 3:21 PM | Permalink 
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