Can you feeeeeel that lub is in the air today? I got off the bus today in Crows Nest being greeted with swarms of balloon floating romantically outside a florist shop....With the biggest one being an insect-looking creature with a BIG "I love every inch of you" labelled at his belly. I begin to wonder, "Has Valentine's Day always incorporates red roses, floating heart-shaped balloons, tacky pressies and extravagant dinner sets?"
Being the lonely soul in the office today racking my brains up on those Valentine's Day ornaments, I googled up the history of this day and discovered many versions of it. One of it being said that Valentine was a priest during the 3rd century of the Rome empire. During that time, Emperor Claudius II suddenly saw the potential of single young men in war and battlefield. They fought with greater bravery and loaded with amplified loyalty as compared to those with other halves. Hence, the Emperor outlawed marriage for young men. This is when the great Valentine stood up and realise how unfair this whole outlawed marriage thing and secretly perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in complete secrecy. When the Emperor discovered what had been happening, he ordered Valentine be killed immediately.
While Valentine was in jail, he fell in love with a young girl who often visited him during his imprisonment. Before he was sentenced to death, he wrote one final letter to this girl and signing off as "From Your Valentine". Hence Valentine's Day came up to honour the bravery and heroic deed Valentine had died for, all in the name of love.
Legend ended here. I read other versions as well but not so much of a surprise, there wasn't any mentions of lavious dinners, bouquet of roses and all those ornaments you see on the street. So where do all those 'brilliant ideas' came from? My answer: Those smart business-minded entrpreneurs. This holy day of showing your love has evolved to be the lucky day for doubled-profit-earnings for businesses around the world. Usual dinner sets, gift pack and a variety of flowers have now been given romantic names and their price rocketed up. Roses usually only $10 soar up to $30, dinner for two that normally cost $60 now shot up to $120.
whopping amount just for this day. By following those commercialised rituals of splurging on expensive so-called valentine's meals, indulging in bunches and bunches of roses and running around malls racking the most romantic gift you can find, it's not an act of love but an invisible support you are showing to those businesses that you agree on them charging a higher price for their products on this very special day. So, my suggestion: Do it the simple way, do it the traditional way. Show it with a hug or a kiss. Love is not a mathematical element so it does not measure itself by how expensive your gift is, how pricey the meal is or how big of bunch of flowers you have in your arms. It's the thoughts that count.
And since love comes in various forms, you might wanna do your part by calling or sms-ing your parents, your besties, your siblings, all your dearest ones to spread some lub around! Remember, its not about spending money today, its about telling people around you how much you love and cherished them.
Finally, no matter what way you chose to express yourself, I still wanna wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!
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